Table 3.
The number of samples detected with MP and the distribution of the number of MP particles by µ-FTIR, according to the lifestyle-related factors.
| N (%) | Detected samples | Total MP counts (N/ml) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N (%) | P † | Mean | P * | ||
| Total | 36 (100.0) | 32 (88.9) | 4.3 | ||
| Ready meals | |||||
| ≥ 1/week | 13 (36.1) | 12 (92.3) | 0.644 | 6.6 | 0.279 |
| < 1/week | 23 (63.9) | 20 (87.0) | 2.9 | ||
| Plastic container % | |||||
| ≥ 50% | 15 (41.7) | 15 (100) | 0.091 | 6.8 | 0.025 |
| < 50% | 21 (58.3) | 17 (81.0) | 2.4 | ||
| Discolored plastic container | |||||
| ≥ 25% | 8 (22.2) | 6 (75.0) | 0.181 | 2.0 | 0.154 |
| < 25% | 28 (77.8) | 26 (92.9) | 4.9 | ||
| Vinyl contained food | |||||
| ≥ 1/week | 20 (55.6) | 19 (95.0) | 0.219 | 4.4 | 0.479 |
| < 1/week | 16 (44.4) | 13 (81.2) | 4.1 | ||
| Seafood | |||||
| ≥ 1/week | 7 (19.4) | 7 (100) | 0.326 | 2.7 | 0.999 |
| < 1/week | 29 (80.6) | 25 (86.2) | 4.6 | ||
| Indoor ventilation | |||||
| ≥ 1/day | 23 (63.9) | 20 (87) | 0.644 | 4.2 | 0.934 |
| < 1/day | 13 (36.1) | 12 (92.3) | 4.4 | ||
*Wilcoxon rank-sum test (or Kruskal–Wallis rank-sum test) was performed to test the differences in the number of MPs in the blood samples by group. Chi-square tests were performed to test for differences in MP detection; MP microplastic.