ArticleNPJ science of food2026
Honey as a bioindicator of microplastic pollution: insights from industrial and special honey types.
Article in NPJ science of food, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Food: Dietary Toxicology Beyond Particle Counts.Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety · 2026Review
- Analytical Strategies for the Detection of Pesticides, Antibiotics, and Heavy Metals in Honey: Current Advances and Implications for Food Safety.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Microplastics in Foods Intended for Health Purposes: From Dietary Supplements to Clinical Nutrition Products.Toxics · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants increasingly detected in food products, raising concerns about human exposure and potential health risks. Honey is a relevant matrix due to its nutritional value, widespread consumption, and close links to environmental quality through bee foraging and processing practices. This study presents a paired comparison of industrial and special (artisanal) honeys within a single country and integrates polymer-specific risk indicators with human exposure estimates in one analytical framework. Fifteen honey samples from Türkiye, including eight industrial and seven special honeys, were analyzed using stereomicroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to determine MP abundance, morphology, and polymer composition. MPs were detected in 93% of samples, with significantly higher concentrations in special honey (11.4 MPs/sample) than in industrial honey (4.9 MPs/sample) (p < 0.05). Fragments dominated (67%) over fibers (33%), and particle sizes ranged from 85 to 1200 µm. The most common polymers were ethylene-vinyl acetate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, halogen-free flame-retardant polymers, and polyamide. Estimated daily intake ranged from 0.16 to 0.38 MPs/day, equivalent to 4169-9699 MPs lifetime. Although honey is not a major dietary MP source, its consistent contamination highlights cumulative exposure pathways and supports its role as a bioindicator of environmental MP pollution.
Identifiers
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Registered trials
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