We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in a Southern Appalachian Forest
Summary
Scientists studying a remote forest in the Appalachian Mountains found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) not just in the air, but inside wild shrews and the earthworms they eat—with the highest concentrations showing up in shrew hearts. This suggests microplastics can travel through the air, settle into even untouched ecosystems, and build up in animal bodies as they move up the food chain. Since humans are also exposed to airborne microplastics and eat foods from similar food chains, this research adds to growing evidence that we should take plastic pollution seriously, even in places far from cities or factories.
Microplastics are ubiquitous emerging contaminants, yet there is a lack of knowledge concerning how they enter and impact rural terrestrial ecosystems. To address this gap, we analyzed microplastics in bycatch wild shrews, earthworms (a common food source for shrews), and atmospheric deposition samples collected in a Southern Appalachian forest. To assess the possibility of trophic transfer, bioaccumulation, and the extent to which airborne microplastics become incorporated into this terrestrial ecosystem, we compared microplastic concentrations in shrew and earthworm tissues, examined potential differences in microplastic concentration across shrew organs, and looked for similarities in microplastic type and color between shrew, earthworm, and atmospheric deposition samples. Tissues of earthworms and shrews organs (heart, liver, kidney, gut, lungs, brain) were dissolved with hydrogen peroxide, filtered, and examined under a microscope. A subset of samples was analyzed using Raman Spectroscopy technology to assess whether particles were correctly identified as plastic. We found that shrews had higher microplastic concentrations per gram of tissue than earthworms, that shrew hearts had highest microplastic concentrations, and similar colors and types of microplastics across sample types. Given the growing consensus that microplastics endanger organism health, we advocate for use of the precautionary principle in regards to microplastic pollution.