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Microplastics in Urban Bird Feces: A Methodological Approach and Case Study in Mexico City
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Researchers developed a methodological approach to detect and characterize microplastics in urban bird feces, testing it in Madrid, Spain. They found microplastics including fibers and fragments in bird droppings, indicating widespread ingestion in urban bird populations.
Microplastics (MP) are ubiquitous contaminants in diverse environmental matrices, including biota. Urban birds, such as pigeons (Columba livia), are particularly vulnerable to MP exposure due to their scavenging habits and proximity to human activities. This study developed and applied a methodology to assess MP presence in pigeon feces, starting with a review of existing methods for extracting MP from organic matrices. Selected methodologies were tested on spiked samples and optimized before being applied to feces collected from three sites in Mexico City (n=10 samples per site). MP were extracted using a digestion process with 50% hydrogen peroxide and analyzed by microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. Concentrations ranged from 16.4 to 27.8 MP/g dry feces, with fragments (80%) and fibers (20%) being the predominant shapes. The most common colors were black (32%) and white (22%), and the polymers identified included polystyrene and polyethylene. These findings suggest that pigeons ingest MP during feeding, likely due to confusion with organic matter, highlighting the risks of urban plastic pollution to avian health. The ingestion of MP could lead to malnutrition, organ damage, and ecosystem imbalances, underscoring the need for improved waste management in urban areas. This study provides evidence of the pervasive impact of plastic pollution in non-marine environments, demonstrating the potential of urban birds as bioindicators of local contamination.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in Urban Bird Feces: A Methodological Approach and Case Study in Mexico City
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Researchers analyzed pigeon droppings from three sites in Mexico City and found 16 to 28 microplastic particles per gram, mostly fragments of polystyrene and polyethylene smaller than 1 millimeter. The study developed a reliable method for extracting microplastics from organic material with a 93% recovery rate. Urban birds like pigeons can serve as indicators of microplastic pollution levels in cities, reflecting the contamination that humans in those same areas are also exposed to.
Occurrence and Distribution of Microplastics in Surface Water and Avian Feces Along an Urban River in Guanajuato, Mexico
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Researchers measured tiny plastic particles in water along Mexico's Guanajuato River and in droppings from two local bird species. Plastic levels were higher during the rainy season, and a wastewater treatment plant removed over 94% of particles. Most plastics found in bird droppings matched those found in the river water.
High microplastic pollution in birds of urban waterbodies revealed by non-invasively collected faecal samples
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Researchers analyzed bird droppings from urban freshwater habitats in Germany and found microplastic particles, mainly fibers, in 98% of samples across all species studied. The pollution levels were substantially higher than those reported in other freshwater bird studies, likely reflecting the heavy contamination of urban waterways. Since all the investigated species are at least partially migratory, the findings suggest birds may transport microplastics over long distances.
Microplastic loading in terrestrial birds from nonlethal sampling
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Researchers tested wild terrestrial birds in the USA for microplastics using two methods: examining digestive tracts from dead birds and collecting droppings from live, released birds. Both methods found microplastics, with dropping samples detecting lower but comparable amounts. Microplastic levels varied more by individual bird than by diet, foraging habits, or body size.
A methodology for the sampling and identification of microplastics in bird nests
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Researchers developed and tested a green (chemical-free) method to extract and identify microplastics from bird nests, finding an average of 250 microplastic items per nest in urban Great-tailed grackle nests, mostly synthetic polyethylene and polypropylene fibers. Bird nests offer a practical, non-invasive way to monitor microplastic contamination in urban and terrestrial environments.
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