Emerging Health Risks Associated with the Intake of Microplastics Found in Milk and Dairy Products

Microplastic contamination in milk and dairy products is an emerging public health concern due to the potential transfer of polymer particles into the human diet. This study aims to assess the health risks associated with the presence of five major polymers, such as poly(methyl methacrylate), polyurethane, polyester, polyethylene, and polyamide, found in a variety of conventional, organic, and raw milk and dairy products. The risk assessment was performed by calculating several indices, including the polymer risk index, concentration factor, daily plastic intake, the chronic daily exposure dose by ingestion, and the plastic risk index. Statistical analyses, including t-test, Pearson correlations, Multilayer Perceptron Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, Scatterplot Matrix, pairwise comparisons, and Multidimensional Scaling, were performed to establish the emerging risks associated with the consumption of contaminated dairy products. The results indicated significant differences in risk parameters between certain product categories, with yogurts, both conventional and organic, showing consistently higher associations with poly(methyl methacrylate), polyurethane, polyester, and polyamide contamination. Strong positive correlations between microplastic concentration and intake-related parameters have confirmed a robust exposure-risk relationship. The exploratory and predictive analyses have revealed product-specific contamination patterns, but no significant association has been observed between product and polymer types. These findings validate the link between microplastic exposure and human health risk and suggest that targeted monitoring of dairy products with high sensitivity is needed to mitigate potential impacts.