Bovine milk and microplastics: Revealing the invisible with advanced microscopy
This study assessed the presence of microplastics (MP) in bovine milk marketed in Ecuador, considering milk type, packaging material, and the analytical methodology employed. A total of 35 samples of raw, whole, and semi-skimmed milk packaged in Tetra Pak, plastic pouches, or sold unpackaged were an...
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Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
2025
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| Acceso en línea: | https://revistas.unne.edu.ar/index.php/vet/article/view/8605 |
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I48-R154-article-8605 |
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ojs |
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Universidad Nacional del Nordeste |
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I-48 |
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R-154 |
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Revistas UNNE - Universidad Nacional del Noroeste (UNNE) |
| language |
Inglés |
| format |
Artículo revista |
| topic |
Livestock contamination polymer animal milking products Ganadería contaminación polímero producto lácteo de origen animal |
| spellingShingle |
Livestock contamination polymer animal milking products Ganadería contaminación polímero producto lácteo de origen animal González-Puetate, I. Pinela Castro, D. Carpio Zorrilla, G. M. Moreno Verdesoto, M. K. Zambrano Guerra, M. d. C. Cedeño Reyes, P. P. Marín-Tello, C. Vásquez-Kool, J. Yánez-Avalos, D. Bovine milk and microplastics: Revealing the invisible with advanced microscopy |
| topic_facet |
Livestock contamination polymer animal milking products Ganadería contaminación polímero producto lácteo de origen animal |
| author |
González-Puetate, I. Pinela Castro, D. Carpio Zorrilla, G. M. Moreno Verdesoto, M. K. Zambrano Guerra, M. d. C. Cedeño Reyes, P. P. Marín-Tello, C. Vásquez-Kool, J. Yánez-Avalos, D. |
| author_facet |
González-Puetate, I. Pinela Castro, D. Carpio Zorrilla, G. M. Moreno Verdesoto, M. K. Zambrano Guerra, M. d. C. Cedeño Reyes, P. P. Marín-Tello, C. Vásquez-Kool, J. Yánez-Avalos, D. |
| author_sort |
González-Puetate, I. |
| title |
Bovine milk and microplastics: Revealing the invisible with advanced microscopy |
| title_short |
Bovine milk and microplastics: Revealing the invisible with advanced microscopy |
| title_full |
Bovine milk and microplastics: Revealing the invisible with advanced microscopy |
| title_fullStr |
Bovine milk and microplastics: Revealing the invisible with advanced microscopy |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Bovine milk and microplastics: Revealing the invisible with advanced microscopy |
| title_sort |
bovine milk and microplastics: revealing the invisible with advanced microscopy |
| description |
This study assessed the presence of microplastics (MP) in bovine milk marketed in Ecuador, considering milk type, packaging material, and the analytical methodology employed. A total of 35 samples of raw, whole, and semi-skimmed milk packaged in Tetra Pak, plastic pouches, or sold unpackaged were analyzed. Samples were subjected to direct observation (DO), density separation with supersaturated saline solution (SSS), filtration (FSSS), and chemical digestion with 10% NaOH (CD). Raw, unpackaged milk exhibited the highest MP concentrations (241.05 ± 66.18 MP L⁻¹), significantly exceeding those found in semi-skimmed (115.14 ± 24.21 MP L⁻¹) and whole milk (65.83 ± 14.19 MP L⁻¹), suggesting that industrial processing may partially reduce contamination. Unpackaged milk also showed higher MP levels compared to milk in Tetra Pak (92.38 ± 20.56 MP L⁻¹) and plastic pouches (88.60 ± 19.66 MP L⁻¹), indicating a protective effect of packaging. Among analytical methods, DO yielded the highest apparent MP concentrations (390.86 ± 48.48 MP L⁻¹), while SSS, SSSF, and CD reported lower values. CD, corroborated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), was found to be the most sensitive and reliable technique due to reduced interference. In conclusion, raw and unpackaged milk contained significantly higher levels of MPs, potentially due to factors such as contaminated feed and deteriorated milking equipment. These findings highlight the need to reinforce sanitary control during production, improve processing and packaging practices, and standardize analytical methodologies to ensure dairy safety and protect public health. |
| publisher |
Universidad Nacional del Nordeste |
| publishDate |
2025 |
| url |
https://revistas.unne.edu.ar/index.php/vet/article/view/8605 |
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I48-R154-article-86052025-09-02T21:00:50Z Bovine milk and microplastics: Revealing the invisible with advanced microscopy Leche bovina y microplásticos: revelando lo invisible con microscopía avanzada González-Puetate, I. Pinela Castro, D. Carpio Zorrilla, G. M. Moreno Verdesoto, M. K. Zambrano Guerra, M. d. C. Cedeño Reyes, P. P. Marín-Tello, C. Vásquez-Kool, J. Yánez-Avalos, D. Livestock contamination polymer animal milking products Ganadería contaminación polímero producto lácteo de origen animal This study assessed the presence of microplastics (MP) in bovine milk marketed in Ecuador, considering milk type, packaging material, and the analytical methodology employed. A total of 35 samples of raw, whole, and semi-skimmed milk packaged in Tetra Pak, plastic pouches, or sold unpackaged were analyzed. Samples were subjected to direct observation (DO), density separation with supersaturated saline solution (SSS), filtration (FSSS), and chemical digestion with 10% NaOH (CD). Raw, unpackaged milk exhibited the highest MP concentrations (241.05 ± 66.18 MP L⁻¹), significantly exceeding those found in semi-skimmed (115.14 ± 24.21 MP L⁻¹) and whole milk (65.83 ± 14.19 MP L⁻¹), suggesting that industrial processing may partially reduce contamination. Unpackaged milk also showed higher MP levels compared to milk in Tetra Pak (92.38 ± 20.56 MP L⁻¹) and plastic pouches (88.60 ± 19.66 MP L⁻¹), indicating a protective effect of packaging. Among analytical methods, DO yielded the highest apparent MP concentrations (390.86 ± 48.48 MP L⁻¹), while SSS, SSSF, and CD reported lower values. CD, corroborated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), was found to be the most sensitive and reliable technique due to reduced interference. In conclusion, raw and unpackaged milk contained significantly higher levels of MPs, potentially due to factors such as contaminated feed and deteriorated milking equipment. These findings highlight the need to reinforce sanitary control during production, improve processing and packaging practices, and standardize analytical methodologies to ensure dairy safety and protect public health. Este estudio evaluó la presencia de microplásticos (MP) en leche bovina comercializada en Ecuador, considerando el tipo de leche, el tipo de envase y la técnica analítica empleada. Se analizaron 35 muestras de leche cruda, entera y semidescremada, en envases Tetra Pak, funda plástica y sin envasar. Las muestras fueron sometidas a observación directa (OD), separación por densidad con solución salina sobresaturada (SSS), filtración (SSSF) y digestión química con NaOH al 10% (DQ). Los resultados revelaron que la leche cruda y sin envasar presentó las mayores concentraciones de MP (241,05 ± 66,18 MP L⁻¹), superando ampliamente a la leche semidescremada (115,14 ± 24,21 MP L⁻¹) y entera (65,83 ± 14,19 MP L⁻¹), lo que sugiere que el procesamiento industrial reduce parcialmente la contaminación. En cuanto al envasado, las muestras sin empaque registraron niveles más elevados frente a Tetra Pak (92,38 ± 20,56 MP L⁻¹) y funda (88,60 ± 19,66 MP L⁻¹), destacando el papel protector del envase. La OD arrojó las concentraciones más altas (390,86 ± 48,48 MP L-1), mientras que SSS, SSSF y DQ reportaron niveles más bajos; esta última demostró ser la técnica más sensible y precisa, al minimizar interferencias, hecho confirmado mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM). En conclusión, la leche cruda y sin envasar contiene niveles más altos de microplásticos, probablemente debido a fuentes como piensos contaminados y equipos de ordeño deteriorados. Estos hallazgos subrayan la necesidad de fortalecer el control sanitario en la producción, optimizar procesos industriales y envasado, y estandarizar metodologías analíticas para garantizar la inocuidad del producto lácteo y proteger la salud pública. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste 2025-09-02 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion application/pdf https://revistas.unne.edu.ar/index.php/vet/article/view/8605 10.30972/vet.3628605 Revista Veterinaria; Vol. 36 Núm. 2 (2025); 1-8 1669-6840 1668-4834 eng https://revistas.unne.edu.ar/index.php/vet/article/view/8605/8155 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 |