Analysis of particulate pollution on foodstuff and other items by environmental scanning electron microscopy

Combustion processes commonly create fine and ultrafine particles whose effects are often harmful to human health. The present study is aimed at providing more data in this field by testing the capability of environmental electron scanning microscopy of detecting and analyzing such particles. For this purpose, we examined a range of samples taken from everyday food items collected in Tuscany. The results showed that, within the examined samples, inorganic particles can be observed in the nano- and micrometer range. These particles are attributable mostly to natural processes and, in part, to food processing. Little evidence is found for particles whose origin could be attributed to industrial combustion processes, such as waste incineration.