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.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Huerta Lwanga, Esperanza Doctora autora 2039, Mendoza Vega, Jorge Doctor autor 2016, Kú Quej, V. M. Maestro autor 8365, Chi Quej, Jesús de los Ángeles Maestro autor 13845, Sánchez del Cid, Elida Lucero Doctora 16052, Chi, César autor, Escalona Segura, Griselda Doctora autora 7231, Gertsen, Henny autora, Salánki, Tamás autor/a, van der Ploeg, Martine autor/a, Koelmans, Albert A. autor, Geissen Geissen, Violette Doctora autora 2022
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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