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Micro(nano) plastics Contamination Assessment of cucumber fruit, Evaluation of Toxicity Effects and an Innovative Edible Food Protection

Toliopoulos, Ilias LU (2025) KEMR30 20251
Department of Chemistry
Abstract
Introduction: Conventional packaging extends cucumber’s shelf life while reducing food waste, however concerns regarding micro(nano) plastics (MNPs) contamination remain. At the same time, edible food coatings are increasingly gaining attention as a promising more
sustainable alternative.

Background: Despite the preservation advantages of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)packaging, its breakdown fractions may result in the migration of MNPs into food, which could pose long-term health risks. There is still significant room for improvement in the current MNPs identification techniques, as well as in the assessment of their toxicity.
Furthermore, innovative alternative solutions require careful evaluation to ensure their efficacy in... (More)
Introduction: Conventional packaging extends cucumber’s shelf life while reducing food waste, however concerns regarding micro(nano) plastics (MNPs) contamination remain. At the same time, edible food coatings are increasingly gaining attention as a promising more
sustainable alternative.

Background: Despite the preservation advantages of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)packaging, its breakdown fractions may result in the migration of MNPs into food, which could pose long-term health risks. There is still significant room for improvement in the current MNPs identification techniques, as well as in the assessment of their toxicity.
Furthermore, innovative alternative solutions require careful evaluation to ensure their efficacy in shelf-life extension.

Aims: This study aims to assess the presence of MNPs on cucumbers that are shrink-wrapped in LDPE, examine the toxicity of LDPE breakdown fractions and finally evaluate the performance of an edible food protection/coating applied on cucumbers during a simulated
farm-to-fork respiration study.

Methods: ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, followed by high-resolution mass spectrometry, was applied to identify MNPs contamination on the cucumbers’ surface. Mechanical breakdown fractions of LDPE were produced, characterized, and subjected to long-term toxicity tests
using the zooplankton Daphnia magna as the study organism. Cucumbers coated with an edible food protection layer were stored under controlled conditions simulating a farm-to-fork distribution lifespan to assess their respiration patterns.

Results: Spectroscopy revealed minimal contamination from LDPE packaging. The breakdown fractions ranged between 55-260 nm and did not induce significant long-term toxic effects on D. magna. Coated cucumbers exhibited a controlled respiration pattern, indicating an overall extension of shelf-life.

Conclusion: LDPE wrap present limited contamination, while the breakdown fractions had almost no toxicity effects on D. magna. The application of edible coatings demonstrated promising possibilities to delay cucumber’s respiration and extend shelf-life.

Keywords: edible coatings, LDPE, Micro(nano) plastics, toxicity, Daphnia magna (Less)
Popular Abstract
Investigating micro(nano) plastics contamination on cucumbers, potential toxicity effects and the performance of an edible food protection.

How often do we, as consumers, consider the environmental impact of food waste ? For instance, each discarded unwrapped cucumber has an environmental footprint equivalent to 93 plastic wraps. While conventional packaging extends cucumber’s shelf-life up to three times longer by reducing moisture loss, concerns about micro(nano) plastics (MNPs) contamination and sustainability remain. As low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic wrap is widely used due to its convenience and cost-effectiveness, this study aims to investigate it’s potential impact on cucumbers and explore an innovative edible food... (More)
Investigating micro(nano) plastics contamination on cucumbers, potential toxicity effects and the performance of an edible food protection.

How often do we, as consumers, consider the environmental impact of food waste ? For instance, each discarded unwrapped cucumber has an environmental footprint equivalent to 93 plastic wraps. While conventional packaging extends cucumber’s shelf-life up to three times longer by reducing moisture loss, concerns about micro(nano) plastics (MNPs) contamination and sustainability remain. As low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic wrap is widely used due to its convenience and cost-effectiveness, this study aims to investigate it’s potential impact on cucumbers and explore an innovative edible food protection (coating) as an alternative solution.

The research conducted in this thesis focused on three main aspects: plastic contamination, toxicity evaluation and performance capabilities of an edible food protection/coating. To determine whether MNPs from LDPE plastic wrap were present on cucumber peels, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was mainly employed followed by High Resolution
Mass spectrometry. The potential toxicity of LDPE breakdown particles was evaluated by using the freshwater zooplankton Daphnia magna. The performance of the edible food protection was examined based on the influence of oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and overall shelf life.

The results revealed minimal plastic contamination, as ATR-FTIR analysis showed only a slight contribution of LDPE packaging to cucumber surfaces. Regarding the toxicity of breakdown fractions, the particles produced ranged between 55-260 nm, and they did not appear to have a significant long-term influence on D. magna, as well as no toxic effects. In terms of the performance of the edible food protection, the cucumbers treated with it exhibited controlled respiration considering the lower O2 consumption and delayed CO2 and
ethylene peaks, indicating a promising extension of post-harvest shelf-life.

Overall, the findings support that LDPE poses limited contamination risks, while edible coatings present a promising solution for minimizing plastic use, provided that they successfully preserve cucumber’s freshness and improve food packaging sustainability. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Toliopoulos, Ilias LU
supervisor
organization
course
KEMR30 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Synthetic and Analytical Chemistry, edible coatings, LDPE, Micro(nano) plastics, toxicity, Daphnia magna
language
English
id
9191707
date added to LUP
2025-06-05 13:22:16
date last changed
2025-06-05 13:22:16
@misc{9191707,
  abstract     = {{Introduction: Conventional packaging extends cucumber’s shelf life while reducing food waste, however concerns regarding micro(nano) plastics (MNPs) contamination remain. At the same time, edible food coatings are increasingly gaining attention as a promising more 
sustainable alternative. 
 
Background: Despite the preservation advantages of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)packaging, its breakdown fractions may result in the migration of MNPs into food, which could pose long-term health risks. There is still significant room for improvement in the current MNPs identification techniques, as well as in the assessment of their toxicity. 
Furthermore, innovative alternative solutions require careful evaluation to ensure their efficacy in shelf-life extension. 

Aims: This study aims to assess the presence of MNPs on cucumbers that are shrink-wrapped in LDPE, examine the toxicity of LDPE breakdown fractions and finally evaluate the performance of an edible food protection/coating applied on cucumbers during a simulated 
farm-to-fork respiration study. 
 
Methods: ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, followed by high-resolution mass spectrometry, was applied to identify MNPs contamination on the cucumbers’ surface. Mechanical breakdown fractions of LDPE were produced, characterized, and subjected to long-term toxicity tests 
using the zooplankton Daphnia magna as the study organism. Cucumbers coated with an edible food protection layer were stored under controlled conditions simulating a farm-to-fork distribution lifespan to assess their respiration patterns.
 
Results: Spectroscopy revealed minimal contamination from LDPE packaging. The breakdown fractions ranged between 55-260 nm and did not induce significant long-term toxic effects on D. magna. Coated cucumbers exhibited a controlled respiration pattern, indicating an overall extension of shelf-life. 

Conclusion: LDPE wrap present limited contamination, while the breakdown fractions had almost no toxicity effects on D. magna. The application of edible coatings demonstrated promising possibilities to delay cucumber’s respiration and extend shelf-life. 

Keywords: edible coatings, LDPE, Micro(nano) plastics, toxicity, Daphnia magna}},
  author       = {{Toliopoulos, Ilias}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Micro(nano) plastics Contamination Assessment of cucumber fruit, Evaluation of Toxicity Effects and an Innovative Edible Food Protection}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}