Estimation of Dietary Microplastic Ingestion: Empirical Analysis for Delhi-NCR

Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly detected in food products and may contribute to human exposure through daily dietary consumption. However, information on dietary MP exposure in Delhi-NCR, India, remains limited. This study aimed to investigate MP contamination in commonly consumed food items and assess their potential contribution to dietary exposure among residents of Delhi-NCR. An online survey involving 175 participants was conducted to determine the consumption frequency of eight food items: potato, egg, apple, potato chips, whole wheat flour, instant noodles, honey, and chicken. Food samples were analyzed using acetone-assisted extraction and compound light microscopy at 10× and 40× magnification. Estimated dietary exposure was assessed by combining measured MP concentrations with reported consumption frequencies and standard serving sizes. MP concentrations varied across the analyzed food items, ranging from 0 particles g -1 in glass-packaged honey to 15 particles g -1 in whole wheat flour. Whole wheat flour exhibited the highest MP concentration and was the most frequently consumed food item among the participants. Potato chips and instant noodles also showed relatively high MP concentrations, whereas honey showed no detected MPs in the analyzed sample. These findings indicate that commonly consumed staple foods may represent important contributors to dietary MP exposure in Delhi-NCR. The study highlights the need for routine monitoring of MPs in staple foods, improved contamination-control measures during food production and processing, and further research using polymer-confirmation techniques to strengthen the assessment of dietary MP exposure in India.