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Evaluating the Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics on Terrestrial Passerines: Insights from Eurasian Tree Sparrows
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Scientists fed tiny plastic particles (microplastics) to sparrows for three weeks and found that while the birds' overall health, blood, and organs seemed fine, the mix of bacteria living in their guts did shift—especially when the plastic pieces were larger. This matters because it shows even short-term microplastic exposure can quietly alter gut bacteria in animals, and since humans also ingest microplastics daily through food, water, and air, similar gut microbiome changes could potentially happen in people too, though longer-term studies are needed to know for sure.
Microplastic (MP) pollution poses a threat to wild animals, but its toxicological impact on terrestrial passerines remains unclear. To address this gap, we conducted the first systematic study investigating how microplastic particle size and dosage jointly influence gut microbiota and multi-system physiological functions in a small terrestrial bird. Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus) were exposed to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) of two particle sizes (0.5 and 15 μm in diameter) and two dosages (100 and 500 μg/d) via oral ingestion for 21 days. After exposure, body status, peripheral blood cell profiles, organ indices, intestinal histomorphology, oxidative stress, and barrier integrity markers displayed no significant changes compared with the control group. In the gut microbiota, large PS-MP particles significantly enhanced microbial species richness and phylogenetic diversity, and their effect was more pronounced than that of small ones. Additionally, structural alterations and distinct community compositions emerged across groups. Both particle size and dosage affected gut microbial composition and taxa abundance, with particle size exhibiting a relatively stronger effect. However, the relative abundance of the top 10 dominant phyla and predicted microbial functional profiles exhibited no significant intergroup differences. In summary, short-term PS-MP exposure primarily impacts the gut microbial structure of Eurasian tree sparrows without disrupting their key physiological functions. This suggests that the birds possess a certain buffering capacity against short-term PS-MP stress, though their long-term ecological tolerance to complex, real-world MP mixtures remains to be further investigated.
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Current levels of microplastic pollution impact wild seabird gut microbiomes
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Researchers studied wild seabirds and found that the amount of microplastics in their guts was linked to significant changes in their gut bacteria. Birds with more microplastics had fewer beneficial bacteria and more harmful ones, including disease-causing and antibiotic-resistant species. This is one of the first studies to show that real-world microplastic exposure is already altering gut microbiomes in wild animals.
Microscopic anthropogenic waste ingestion by small terrestrial European passerines: evidence from finch and tit families
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Researchers examined the stomachs and intestines of nine common European songbird species — finches and tits — to see how much microscopic waste they were ingesting. Of 149 birds tested, 31 contained particles including 7 confirmed microplastics (polyethylene, PET, and polystyrene), along with cellulosic fibers like cotton and rayon. Finches ingested more than tits, and ingestion rates were higher outside the breeding season. Because these small birds are prey for larger animals, they may be passing microplastics up the food chain.
Differences in microplastics in passerine feces across species, diet, and foraging location
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Researchers analyzed fecal samples from five passerine bird species and found microplastics in all of them, with ground-foraging species carrying higher particle loads and insectivores ingesting more fragment-shaped particles than omnivores — suggesting that feeding behavior and habitat determine which bird species face the greatest microplastic exposure risk.
The impact of microplastics on the mice gut microbiome: a meta-analysis.
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A new analysis combining data from multiple mouse studies found that eating microplastics measurably shifts the balance of bacteria living in the gut, boosting certain groups involved in digestion and metabolism. While this research was done in mice, not humans, it adds to growing evidence that the tiny plastic particles we're all exposed to daily could be quietly altering our gut bacteria in ways that might affect digestion and overall health, making this an area worth watching closely as research continues.
Microplastics in the environment: impact of oral ingestion on human microbiome as assessed by in vitro gut models
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Scientists used lab-made models of the human gut (instead of testing on real people) to study what happens when we swallow tiny plastic particles called microplastics, which come from things like food packaging and water bottles. The research suggests these particles can disturb the balance of good and bad bacteria living in our gut, which matters because a healthy gut microbiome plays a big role in digestion, immunity, and overall health. While this doesn't prove microplastics are harming people yet, it's an early warning sign that the plastic we're constantly exposed to may be affecting us in ways we're just starting to understand.
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