{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T00:54:38Z","timestamp":1790816078981,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"PAGEPress Publications","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,26]],"date-time":"2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1742947200000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Ital J Food Safety"],"abstract":"<jats:p>As far as we know, there is no evidence regarding the microfiber (MF) occurrence and abundance in branded milk samples from Italy. Therefore, a total of 20 milk samples from 5 brands were collected and analyzed using a digestion step with hydrogen peroxide followed by filtration. Natural and synthetic MFs were classified according to the evaluation of surface morphology (i.e., shape and texture), followed by chemical identification using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) microspectroscopy. Results revealed the occurrence of MFs in 67.5% of the analyzed samples and showed variability ranging between 1-27 particles\/100 mL with an overall average of 3.85 MFs\/100 mL. The FTIR analyses confirmed the presence of polyethylene, polyester, acrylic, and cellulosic MFs. According to the literature, the contamination of milk may occur at various stages along the production chain. The blood-milk barrier would prevent MFs from being transferred across the mammary gland into the milk. The highest MF levels found in ultra-high temperature skimmed milk of some brands may indicate the more complex the processing of milk, the more MFs they contain. However, due to the different MF types and polymers, an unambiguous conclusion on MF sources cannot be made. MFs could be shed from the filters used in the milk processing factories and the protective clothing for workers. Therefore, the MF contamination should be properly investigated along the entire supply chain, identifying the sources of contamination and implementing control strategies and mitigation measures.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4081\/ijfs.2025.13523","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,26]],"date-time":"2025-03-26T12:29:29Z","timestamp":1742992169000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Study of fibrous microplastic and natural microfiber levels in branded milk samples from Italy"],"prefix":"10.4081","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3341-8000","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Serena","family":"Santonicola","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Michela","family":"Volgare","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mariacristina","family":"Cocca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2805-6052","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giampaolo","family":"Colavita","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2549","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"171541","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Avio CG, Pittura L, d\u2019Errico G, Abel S, Amorello S, Marino G. Regoli F, 2020. Distribution and characterization of microplastic particles and textile microfibers in Adriatic food webs: General insights for biomonitoring strategies. Environ Pollut 258:113766.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2019.113766"},{"key":"171542","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bai CL, Liu LY, Hu YB, Zeng EY, Guo Y, 2022. Microplastics: a review of analytical methods, occurrence and characteristics in food, and potential toxicities to biota. Sci Total Environ 806:150263.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2021.150263"},{"key":"171543","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Basaran B, \u00d6z\u00e7if\u00e7i Z, Akcay HT, Aytan \u00dc, 2023. Microplastics in branded milk: Dietary exposure and risk assessment. J Food Compos Anal 123:105611.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jfca.2023.105611"},{"key":"171544","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chakraborty TK, Hasan MJ, Netema BN, Rayhan MA, Asif SMH, Biswas A, Hasibuzzaman M, 2024. Microplastics in the commercially available branded milk in Bangladesh: An emerging threat for human health. J Hazard Mater 477:135374.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhazmat.2024.135374"},{"key":"171545","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Da Costa Filho PA, Andrey D, Eriksen B, Peixoto RP, Carreres BM, Amb\u00fchl ME, Poitevin, E, 2021. Detection and characterization of small-sized microplastics (\u2265 5 \u00b5m) in milk products. Sci Rep 11:24046.","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-021-03458-7"},{"key":"171546","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"De Falco F, Cocca M, Avella M, Thompson RC, 2020. Microfiber release to water, via laundering, and to air, via everyday use: a comparison between polyester clothing with differing textile parameters. Environl Sci Technol 54:3288-96.","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.est.9b06892"},{"key":"171547","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Diaz-Basantes MF, Conesa JA, Fullana, A, 2020. Microplastics in honey, beer, milk and refreshments in Ecuador as emerging contaminants. Sustainability 12:5514.","DOI":"10.3390\/su12145514"},{"key":"171548","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dong X, Liu X, Hou Q, Wang Z, 2023. From natural environment to animal tissues: a review of microplastics (nanoplastics) translocation and hazards studies. Sci Total Environ 855:158686.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.158686"},{"key":"171549","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kaseke T, Lujic T, Cirkovic Velickovic T, 2023. Nano-and microplastics migration from plastic food packaging into dairy products: impact on nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism. Foods 12:3043.","DOI":"10.3390\/foods12163043"},{"key":"171550","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kiruba R, Preethi M, Aganasteen R, Rithick RM, Hannah TC, Monica P, Naseera BI, 2022. Identification of microplastics as emerging contaminant in branded milk of Tamil Nadu State, India. Asian J Biol Life Sci 11:181.","DOI":"10.5530\/ajbls.2022.11.25"},{"key":"171551","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kutralam-Muniasamy G, P\u00e9rez-Guevara F, Elizalde-Mart\u00ednez I, Shruti VC, 2020. Branded milks\u2013are they immune from microplastics contamination? Sci Total Environ 714:136823.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2020.136823"},{"key":"171552","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kwak JI, Liu H, Wang D, Lee YH. Lee JS, An YJ, 2022. Critical review of environmental impacts of microfibers in different environmental matrices. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 251:109196.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cbpc.2021.109196"},{"key":"171553","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lin Q, Zhao S, Pang L, Sun C, Chen L, Li F, 2022. Potential risk of microplastics in processed foods: preliminary risk assessment concerning polymer types, abundance, and human exposure of microplastics. Ecotox Environ Saf 247:114260.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecoenv.2022.114260"},{"key":"171554","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liu J, Zhu B, An L, Ding J, Xu Y, 2023. Atmospheric microfibers dominated by natural and regenerated cellulosic fibers: explanations from the textile engineering perspective. Environ Pollut 317:120771.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2022.120771"},{"key":"171555","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Marangoni F, Pellegrino L, Verduci E, Ghiselli A, Bernabei R, Calvani R, Poli A, 2019. Cow\u2019s milk consumption and health: a health professional\u2019s guide. J Am Coll Nutr 38:197-208.","DOI":"10.1080\/07315724.2018.1491016"},{"key":"171556","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rbaibi Zipak S, Muratoglu K, Buyukunal SK, 2024. Microplastics in raw milk samples from the Marmara region in Turkey. 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Study on the occurrence of microplastics from marine pollution to human food chain (in SiRiMaP PON_Project). Proceedings of the 2nd international conference on microplastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. Springer International Publishing, Berlin, German, pp 287-93.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-45909-3_46"},{"key":"171560","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Santonicola S, Volgare M, Cocca M, Dorigato G, Giaccone V, Colavita G, 2023. Impact of fibrous microplastic pollution on commercial seafood and consumer health: a review. Animals 13:1736.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani13111736"},{"key":"171561","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Santonicola S, Volgare M, Rossi F, Castaldo R, Cocca M, Colavita G, 2024. Detection of fibrous microplastics and natural microfibers in fish species (Engraulis encrasicolus, Mullus barbatus and Merluccius merluccius) for human consumption from the Tyrrhenian Sea. 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