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A Preliminary Demonstration of ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy of Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) Eggshells for Environmental Chemical Screening, Suggesting Microplastic-Associated Contamination, Indore, India
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Scientists tested a quick, non-invasive scanning technique on wild bird eggshells in India and found chemical signatures that may indicate microplastic contamination in the environment where the birds live. This matters because birds can act as an early warning system for pollution that could also affect humans, since the same plastic particles showing up in wildlife are increasingly found in our air, water, and food. This is a preliminary study, so more research is needed to confirm the findings and understand what they mean for broader health risks.
Simple, non-invasive ways to screen wild birds for the chemical traces of plastic pollution remain scarce. This study tested whether attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy can be applied to bird eggshells as a rapid, non-destructive matrix for environme...
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Non-Invasive Assessment of Microplastic Contamination in the Avian Biodiversity of Gharana Wetland, Jammu and Kashmir
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Researchers used a non-invasive approach, analyzing bird droppings, to detect microplastic contamination in avian species at the Gharana Wetland in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Microplastics including fragments, fibers, and microbeads were confirmed in the scat of multiple bird species across different trophic levels, with chemical composition verified by FTIR analysis. The findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure in both native and migratory birds at this protected Important Bird Area.
Qualitative and Quantitative Detection of Microplastics in Chicken Feed Using Portable Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
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Scientists tested a portable scanning tool that uses infrared light to detect tiny plastic particles hidden in chicken feed, and it correctly identified the type of plastic about 96% of the time. This matters because microplastics in animal feed could end up in the meat and eggs we eat, and this faster, non-destructive testing method could eventually help catch contaminated feed before it enters the food supply, though it still needs more testing in real-world conditions with mixed plastic types.
FTIR based assessment of microplastic contamination in soil water and insect ecosystems reveals environmental and ecological risks
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Researchers in southern India used infrared spectroscopy to measure microplastic contamination in soil, water, and insects, finding polypropylene and polystyrene in over 91% of samples. The study revealed that insects like beetles and bees can carry microplastics on their bodies and spread them through ecosystems, highlighting another pathway by which plastic pollution can move through the food chain toward humans.
Microplastic Contamination in Edible Tissues of Broiler and Free -Range Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) from Nigeria: Polymer and Morphological Characterisation Using ATR-FTIR and SEM with Comparison of KOH and Fenton Digestion Protocols
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Researchers found tiny plastic particles, including common types like polyethylene and polystyrene, in the liver, heart, and muscle of chickens sold in Nigeria, with the liver most contaminated. Since chicken is a widely eaten food, this suggests poultry could be a hidden way people are exposed to microplastics, though more research is needed to understand health risks.
Chemical identification of microplastics ingested by Red Phalaropes (Phalaropus fulicarius) using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy
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FTIR spectroscopy identified the chemical composition of plastic particles ingested by Red Phalaropes found dead in British Columbia, with the majority of particles being polyethylene and polypropylene packaging plastics, providing a direct link between marine plastic pollution and seabird mortality during seasonal migration.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.