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Microplastics in agroecosystems – A case study on alfalfa (Medicago sativa) dedicated for feeding Italian Mediterranean buffalo in Borgo Cioffi (Italy)
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Researchers examined microplastic abundances in an agricultural agroecosystem in Borgo Cioffi, Italy, where alfalfa is grown to feed roughly 1,000 Italian Mediterranean buffaloes, sampling both alfalfa plants and atmospheric deposition at 15 locations. The study assessed the potential for microplastics to enter the livestock food chain via contaminated feed crops in this mozzarella-producing region.
The present study examines microplastic abundances in an agricultural ecosystem in Borgo Cioffi, Italy. The agricultural area borders an associated buffalo farm, where the high-protein alfalfa hay serves to feed about 1,000 the Italian Mediterranean buffaloes and "Mozzarella di bufala" is produced. Alfalfa plants (Medicago Sativa) and atmospheric samples were taken at 15 locations. Sampling was conducted over three consecutive days at the end of May 2022. Samples were processed and microplastic particles were identified and quantified via a combined Nile red and fluorescence microscopic approach. Particles were classified according to dimensions, morphology and for a subset of particles polymer composition. Microplastic concentrations in the vegetation samples showed an average of 720 ± 466 particles per gram dry weight or 9 ± 5 particles per cm² leaf surface. In the atmospheric samples, microplastic particles were identified with an average of 1.4 ± 0.9 particles per m³ of air. Polyethylene (PE) clearly dominated the particle composition both in air and vegetation samples (51 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/557512/document
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Microplastics in agroecosystems – A case study on alfalfa (Medicago sativa) dedicated for feeding Italian Mediterranean buffalo in Borgo Cioffi (Italy)
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Researchers examined microplastic abundances in an Italian agroecosystem at Borgo Cioffi where alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is grown to feed approximately 1,000 Italian Mediterranean buffaloes used for mozzarella production, collecting plant and atmospheric samples at 15 locations using Nile red fluorescence microscopy. The study found microplastic contamination in both the crops and atmospheric deposition across the agricultural area.
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Researchers measured microplastic contamination in common cattle feeds at dairy farms in northwestern Italy, including corn silage, hay, and high-protein feedstuff. All feed types contained microplastics, with corn silage being the most contaminated at about 38 particles per gram. Since microplastics in animal feed can transfer into meat and dairy products, this finding highlights a potential route of human exposure through the food we eat.
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