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Assessing microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in bird lungs: evidence of ecological risks and bioindicator potential
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Researchers examined the lungs of 51 bird species and found microplastics in all of them, averaging over 400 particles per gram of lung tissue, with nanoplastics also detected in five species tested. Birds may serve as early warning indicators of airborne plastic pollution, and the widespread contamination of their lungs suggests that humans breathing the same air face similar exposure risks.
Microplastics (MPs, 1 µm-5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs, < 1 µm), collectively termed micro(nano)plastics (MNPs), are pervasive airborne pollutants with significant ecological risks. Birds, recognized as bioindicators, are particularly vulnerable to MNP exposure, yet the extent and risks of MNP pollution in bird lungs remain largely unexplored. This study assessed MP exposure in bird lungs of 51 species and NP exposure in the lungs of five representative species using laser direct infrared (LDIR) and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) techniques, respectively. The LDIR analysis revealed different degrees of MP contamination in bird lungs, with an average abundance of 221.20 items per species and 416.22 MP particles per gram of lung. Among 32 identified MP types, chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) and butadiene rubber (BR) predominated, with particles primarily in film and pellet forms, concentrated in the 20-50 μm size range. The polymer hazard index (PHI) indicated elevated ecological risks (levels Ⅲ or Ⅳ) in most bird lungs. Py-GC-MS detected nylon 66 (PA66), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP) NPs at varying concentrations. Terrestrial, carnivorous, and larger-bodied birds exhibited higher MNP burdens. This study provides the first evidence of MNP contamination in bird lungs, highlighting their potential as bioindicators of airborne MNP pollution.
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Accumulation of microplastics in predatory birds near a densely populated urban area
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Researchers found microplastics in every single digestive tract examined from four species of predatory birds near a major city, and 65% also had microplastics in their respiratory systems. On average, each bird contained about 8 microplastic particles, mostly fibers, likely ingested through contaminated prey. This is the first study to document microplastic contamination in the breathing organs of birds of prey, showing how plastic pollution moves up the food chain.
Organ-level translocation and tissue-specific accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics in wild birds
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Researchers quantified micro- and nanoplastic burdens across six tissues in ten wild bird species and found that smaller-bodied birds carried higher plastic loads. Nanoplastics showed greater ability to move into internal organs than larger microplastics, and plastic particles were detected in the brain, blood, lungs, and muscle tissue. The study suggests that blood plastic levels could serve as a proxy for internal organ contamination and positions wild birds as potential bioindicators for plastic pollution.
Birds as bioindicators of plastic pollution in terrestrial and freshwater environments: A 30-year review
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This 30-year review of 106 studies examines how birds in freshwater and land environments are affected by plastic pollution. Most research has focused on larger plastic pieces, while microplastic exposure in these bird species is understudied and nanoplastic exposure has not been investigated at all. The authors urge researchers to develop standardized methods for measuring small plastic particles in birds, which could serve as valuable warning signs of plastic pollution across ecosystems.
Widespread microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in the intestines of birds: A case study from Chengdu, China
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Researchers found microplastics and nanoplastics in the intestines of 49 bird species in Chengdu, China, with PVC and chlorinated polyethylene being the most common types. Nanoplastics, which are harder to detect and potentially more harmful, were confirmed in five species using advanced analytical methods. The widespread contamination across many bird species suggests that microplastic pollution has thoroughly penetrated terrestrial food webs, not just marine environments.
Airborne microplastics detected in the lungs of wild birds in Japan
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Researchers found microplastics in the lungs of wild birds in Japan, including rock doves and barn swallows, confirming that birds inhale airborne plastic particles. The particles, mostly polypropylene and polyethylene fragments, were 28-70 micrometers in size and had reached deep into the lung tissue. Since birds breathe more efficiently than mammals, these findings serve as a warning that airborne microplastics are being inhaled by wildlife and likely by humans as well.
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