A water-contact experiment compared specific disposable and reusable food containers, retaining sample-level polymer counts.
Source details
Bo Kyung Kim, Jihoon Kim, Jung Bin Lee, Jun Bae Hong, Juno Lee, Pahn-Shick Chang. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2026.
DOI: 10.1007/s13197-026-06691-y
Findings
For the specified PP soup container, sample 8, Table 2 reports 29.7 ± 2.1 pieces/container. Identified particle polymers included PE, PP and PET. Its total does not include the unidentifiable category present in some other sample rows.
The reusable samples were specific steel-bodied containers and a PP cup. They do not establish performance over repeated washing and reuse of household tubs.
Methods and scope
Containers were filled to capacity with filtered distilled water, closed, gently shaken, and held at room temperature for 30 min. Hot-food containers started with water boiled at 100 °C; other types used 20 °C water. A 20 µm mesh preceded micro-FTIR; connected-component mapping counted particles. Blanks reportedly contained no microplastics.
What this source can support
Direct measurements from specified container/water tests, with chemically identified polymers.
A single water-contact experiment does not characterize repeated household reuse or all tubs. Table 2 includes an unidentifiable Etc. category in some totals; the selected sample 8 has none. The paper hypothesizes cross-contamination; this is not proof of origin. Methods ambiguously call material after filtration the filtrate. Modeled annual intake is not reproduced.
Related evidence
Reported values and source locations
| Reported value | Measurement basis | Conditions and size context | Original document location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29.7 ± 2.1 pieces/container | Table 2 mean ± reported dispersion; triplicate experiment; table does not explicitly label dispersion SD/SE | Sample 8, PP body and PP lid, 2500 mL capacity; initially 100 °C distilled water, gentle shaking, 30 min at room temperature 20 µm mesh; study size classes start at 20 µm, not a validated nanoplastic assay | PDF p. 6 Table 2 sample 8; p. 3 Table 1; p. 4 methods |
Source provenance
Primary PDF SHA-256: 928a947ad149f485769be694724e35ee8bfda47c6b51e14305575a4c23cc1fc9
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