Microplastics Released from Disposable Food-Handling Gloves: Role of Material Type and Food Simulant

The rapid expansion of the takeaway food industry has led to the widespread use of disposable gloves as food-contact materials, which may release microplastics (MPs) during use, posing potential risks to human health and the environment. This study investigated the release of MPs from three common types of disposable food-handling gloves—polyethylene (PE), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and polylactic acid (PLA)—into water and edible oil as food simulants. The results indicated that the oil-containing system significantly promoted the release of MPs, with release levels generally 2 to 3 times higher than those in the water environment. Among the materials, PE gloves released the highest amount of MPs in oil, reaching 3183.33 ± 500.83 items/m2, while TPE gloves released the lowest amount in water, only 183.33 ± 28.87 items/m2. Morphologically, the released MPs were predominantly fibrous, with a notable presence of granular MPs from PE gloves in the oil environment. Surface characterization by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy provided additional observations that were broadly consistent with the release patterns. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of material selection and usage conditions in mitigating MP contamination from disposable food-handling gloves.