Global Plastic Pollution in the Food Industry: Micro-Nanoplastics and Their Environmental Impact

Year 2024, , 70 - 77, 17.12.2024

Müge Uyarcan , Sude Cansın Güngör

https://doi.org/10.47027/duvetfd.1500998

Abstract

In recent years, the use of petroleum-based plastics in food packaging has increased due to various factors such as availability of raw material source, low cost, good insulation, poor electrical/heat conductivity and corrosion resistance, light weight, high strength and versatile manufacturability. In 2022, total plastic production was to 400.3 million metric tons, while plastic waste production reached 300 million metric tons, and only 14% of plastic waste was reported to be recycled. Among these production data, food packaging accounts for 50% of plastics derived from fossil fuels. Although plastic packaging has been used in the food industry for a long time, it harms the environment due to its stability, durability and non-biodegradability. In plastic production, fossil fuels such as crude oil, gas, and coal are commonly used as raw materials. Fossil fuels are the main sources of environmental pollution and toxic greenhouse gases (methane and ethylene). Today, the high global consumption of these fuels due to plastic production leads to serious adverse consequences. Changes in climate and seasonal patterns have negative consequences, including retreating glaciers and rising sea levels. In addition, when they break down, they turn into microplastics and nanoplastics, which eventually enter the food chain, posing health problems for humans and other living things in the environment. Microplastics and nanoplastics have attracted the most attention in recent years among plastic pollutants. Plastics in micro and nanoplastic forms pose a threat to human health due to their tiny sizes (microplastics (<5 mm) and nanoplastics (<1 μm), allowing them to easily enter the human body through airways and various pathways, including the food chain. Especially in recent years, studies have drawn attention to the transformation of plastics from their 'beneficial' use into 'waste', which causes significant global problems, and have focused on reducing the potential harmful effects of plastic-based materials on human and environmental health. In this review, the ecological cycle of petroleum-based plastics in food packaging, the effects of micro-nanoplastic wastes on marine, land and nature ecosystems, and global climate changes will be examined.

Keywords

Food packaging, microplastics, nanoplastics, plastic pollution

Gıda Endüstrisinde Küresel Plastik Kirliliği: Mikro-Nanoplastikler ve Çevresel Etkileri

Abstract

Son yıllarda gıda ambalajlamada petrol bazlı plastik kullanımının ham madde kaynağının bulunabilirliği, düşük maliyet, iyi yalıtım, zayıf elektrik/ısı iletkenlik ve korozyon direnci, hafiflik, yüksek mukavemet ve çok yönlü üretilebilirlik gibi çeşitli faktörler nedeniyle arttığı görülmektedir. 2022 yılında toplam plastik üretimi 400.3 milyon metrik ton olarak gerçekleşirken, plastik atık üretimi 300 milyon metrik ton seviyesine ulaşmıştır ve plastik atıkların sadece %14'ünün geri dönüştürüldüğü rapor edilmiştir. Bu üretim verilerinin arasında gıda ambalajları fosil yakıtlardan elde edilen plastiklerin %50'sini oluşturmaktadır. Plastik ambalajlar gıda endüstrisinde uzun süredir kullanılmasına rağmen kararlılıkları, dayanıklılıkları ve biyobozunur olmamaları sebebiyle çevreye zarar vermektedir. Plastik üretiminde genellikle ham madde olarak ham petrol, gaz ve kömür gibi fosil yakıtlar kullanılmaktadır. Fosil yakıtlar, çevre kirliliği ve toksik sera gazlarının (metan ve etilen) başlıca kaynaklarıdır. Günümüzde plastik üretiminden kaynaklanan bu yakıtların dünya genelinde yüksek bir oranda tüketilmesi, ciddi olumsuz sonuçlar doğurmaktadır. İklim ve mevsim düzenindeki değişiklikler, buzulların geri çekilmesi ve yükselen deniz seviyeleri dahil olmak üzere olumsuz sonuçlar meydana getirmektedir. Ayrıca parçalara ayrıldıklarında mikroplastiklere ve nanoplastiklere dönüşmekte, bunlar da nihayetinde besin zincirine girerek, insanlar ve çevredeki diğer canlılar için sağlık sorunları oluşturmaktadır. Mikroplastikler ve nanoplastikler, plastik kaynaklı kirleticiler arasında son yıllarda en fazla dikkati çeken konu olmuştur. Mikro ve nanoplastik formlarındaki plastikler, boyutlarının çok küçük olması (mikroplastik (<5 mm) ve nanoplastik (<1 μm) nedeniyle insan vücuduna hava yoluyla ve besin zinciri gibi çeşitli yollarla kolayca girerek insan sağlığını tehdit etmektedir. Özellikle son yıllarda yapılan çalışmalar plastiklerin ‘yararlı’ kullanımından küresel sorunlara sebebiyet veren ‘atıklara’ dönüşümüne dikkat çekmekte ve plastik bazlı malzemelerin insan ve çevre sağlığı üzerindeki potansiyel zararlı etkilerini azaltmaya odaklanmıştır. Bu derlemede gıda ambalajlamada petrol bazlı plastiklerin ekolojik döngüsü, mikro-nanoplastik atıkların deniz, kara ve doğa ekosistemine ve küresel iklim değişiklerine etkisi irdelenecektir.

Keywords

Gıda ambalajlama, mikroplastikler, nanoplastikler, plastik kirliliği

Ethical Statement

Yazarlar herhangi bir çıkar çatışması beyan etmemektedir.

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