Field evidence for transfer of plastic debris along a terrestrial food chain
Although plastic pollution happens globally, the micro- (<5 mm) and macroplastic (5-150 mm) transfer of plastic to terrestrial species relevant to human consumption has not been examined. We provide first-time evidence for micro- and macroplastic transfer from soil to chickens in traditional Mayan home gardens in Southeast Mexico where waste mismanagement is common. We assessed micro- and macroplastic in soil, earthworm casts, chicken feces, crops and gizzards (used for human consumption). Microplastic concentrations increased from soil (0.87 ± 1.9 particles g−¹), to earthworm casts (14.8 ± 28.8 particles g−¹), to chicken feces (129.8 ± 82.3 particles g−¹). Chicken gizzards contained 10.2 ± 13.8 microplastic particles, while no microplastic was found in crops. An average of 45.82 ± 42.6 macroplastic particles were found per gizzard and 11 ± 15.3 macroplastic particles per crop, with 1-10 mm particles being significantly more abundant per gizzard (31.8 ± 27.27 particles) compared to the crop (1 ± 2.2 particles). The data show that micro- and macroplastic are capable of entering terrestrial food webs.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | Microplásticos, Gallinas, Lombrices de tierra, Contaminación alimentaria, Huertos familiares, Riesgo a la salud, Artfrosur, |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14588-2 |
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