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The negative impact of microplastics on the health of farm animals and the quality of livestock products
Summary
Researchers reviewed evidence on how microplastics affect farm animals and the food supply chain, finding that controlled studies show oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis at high doses, but whether ambient environmental concentrations cause measurable harm to livestock productivity or meat safety remains unresolved.
The increasing volume of microplastics generated, their widespread distribution in agricultural areas, the potential for ingestion by farm animals and poultry, and the potential impact on their productivity and meat quality make microplastics a risk factor for the livestock and poultry industries. This scientific review analyzes the scientific literature on the impact of microplastics on the health of ruminants, pigs, and poultry, as well as on their productivity and meat product characteristics. It is noted that the results of controlled experiments indicate localized negative impacts of microplastics on the health of livestock and poultry, manifested as oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis following short-term exposure to concentrations exceeding those typically found in the environment. However, it remains unclear whether microplastics have a systemic impact on disease incidence, productivity, and overall well-being of animals at exposure levels close to natural ones. The presence of microplastics in the tissues of farm animals and poultry at concentrations that could potentially raise consumer concerns indicates a potential food safety issue. However, the methods used to detect microplastics are susceptible to contamination, creating uncertainty regarding the true concentrations and the source of the microplastics, such as whether they arise from the production process, processing, or packaging of the meat. However, existing data do not allow for a correlation between microplastic exposure and animal performance, nor does it provide a complete picture of the total amount and types of microplastics to which farm animals and poultry are exposed. To date, there are no studies examining the sources of microplastics or developing effective measures to reduce their impact in livestock supply chains. Preliminary data indicate that microplastics can act as carriers of heavy metals, antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes, and microorganisms. Further research is needed to quantify the impact of microplastics as a contaminant carrier. Thus, the presence of microplastics in livestock and poultry production systems poses a potential threat to animal welfare, animal productivity and consumer acceptance of meat products.