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Evaluation of microplastics and metal accumulation in domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos f. domesticus) of a contaminated reservoir in Central Mexico
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Researchers examined domestic ducks living near a contaminated reservoir in central Mexico and found nearly all birds had ingested microplastics, averaging about 155 suspected particles per individual. The ducks also showed signs of heavy metal contamination and poor body condition. The study provides baseline data linking microplastic and metal pollution in waterfowl to human activities around contaminated water bodies.
We procured a total of 22 Anas platyrhynchos f. domesticus (domestic ducks) individuals around the Valsequillo Dam, Puebla, Mexico, to assess ingested plastics and accumulated metals (As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn). The morphometric results of all the samples presented adverse body conditions, where the females had less average body weight (1.94 ± 0.30 kg), height (53. 7 ± 2.78 cm) and wingspan length (92.6 ± 7.45 cm) compared to the male species. The coefficients of variation of all the studied elements (CV > 36 %), except Cu in feathers, demonstrated a high degree of variation, implying exogenous contamination from human activities. Nearly all the studied species presented MP ingestion, with an average of 154.9 suspected particles/ individual. The colour of the MPs was mainly blue (35 %) and transparent (32 %), while the principal forms of MPs were fragments (53 %) and filaments (36 %). The SEM-EDX characterization presented carbon and oxygen peaks and affirmed that the extracted particles are polyethylene and polypropylene. The Pollution Load Index values for MPs were found to be >1, signifying that the site is polluted by MPs, and the calculated Potential Risk Index denoted that the ducks are at low risk of exposure to Cd, Cr, Zn and Ni, and a constant exposure to Cu can be harmful. The study will contribute to establishing baseline data to elucidate the degree of accumulation of MPs and metals in domestic ducks which will be used to employ monitoring programs for the sustainable conservation of the aquatic ecosystem.
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Micro- and mesoplastic contaminants in marine diving ducks: A first assessments from the coast of Japan
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Researchers conducted the first assessment of plastic contamination in two species of mollusk-eating seaducks wintering along Japan's Pacific coast and found microplastics in all ten birds examined. The vast majority of particles were tiny fragments under 200 micrometers, a size class previously overlooked in seaduck studies, suggesting these birds ingest microplastics primarily through their contaminated prey.
ANALISIS KANDUNGAN MIKROPLASTIK PADA BEBEK (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) STUDI KAJIAN TINGKAT PENCEMARAN PLASTIK DI TERNAK UNGGAS AIR
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Researchers examined microplastic content in the digestive tracts of domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) in Indonesia, as free-ranging waterfowl are likely to be exposed to microplastic-contaminated waterways. Microplastics were detected in the ducks, providing evidence that plastic pollution has entered the poultry supply chain in affected regions. This appears to be one of the first studies documenting microplastics in waterfowl raised in plastic-contaminated environments.
Non-invasive methodology for the ecotoxicological sampling of anatids in urban and peri-urban areas
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Researchers proposed a non-invasive methodology for ecotoxicological sampling of urban ducks and waterfowl to monitor environmental pollution including microplastics. The multidisciplinary approach uses urban waterbirds as bioindicators, taking advantage of their correlation with human pollutant exposure. The study emphasizes that these readily accessible urban species offer a practical way to assess environmental contamination levels in populated areas.
Presence of plastic particles in waterbirds faeces collected in Spanish lakes
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Researchers analyzed feces from three waterbird species (coot, mallard, shelduck) at five inland wetlands in Spain, finding plastic debris in 44–60% of individuals, suggesting that freshwater waterfowl ingest plastic at frequencies comparable to marine seabirds, likely from agricultural plastic debris surrounding the lakes.
Microplastic Quantification in Aquatic Birds: Biomonitoring the Environmental Health of the Panjkora River Freshwater Ecosystem in Pakistan
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Researchers raised ducks on the banks of the Panjkora River in Pakistan for over four months to assess microplastic contamination in a freshwater ecosystem through biomonitoring. They found microplastics present in the gastrointestinal tracts of all sampled birds, with fibers and fragments being the most common types, primarily composed of polyethylene and polypropylene. The study demonstrates that aquatic birds can serve as effective biological indicators of microplastic pollution levels in river systems.
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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.