Microfibers in the diet of a highly aerial bird, the Common swift Apus apus

The widespread problem of microplastic pollution impacts ecosystems globally. Contrary to the well-documented contamination in aquatic and terrestrial environments, research on airborne microplastics remains limited, despite their inhalation pose risks to humans and wildlife. Investigating their presence in the atmosphere is pivotal, yet the development of reliable methodology for their monitoring is still in its early stages. Given their established role as indicators of air, water, and soil contamination, birds might also serve as an excellent biological model for studying airborne microplastics. Our study, conducted in Northern Italy during spring 2021, focused on Common swifts (Apus apus). We collected their faecal sacs to not only assess their diet but also to investigate the potential ingestion of airborne microplastics by adult birds and the subsequent potential transfer of these contaminants to their offspring. We identified insect prey through chitin fragment analysis using taxonomic keys, while microscopy coupled with Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (µ-FTIR) was employed for polymer characterization. Our sample included six adults and 25 nestlings. Their diet was mainly composed by Hymenoptera and Coleoptera and did not differ among sexes and age classes. The 33 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/557849/document