Accumulation of microplastics in edible tissues of livestock (cow and sheep)

Abstract Plastic pollution is widely recognized as a major environmental concern due to the entry of small plastic particles into the food chain, thereby posing potential risks to human health. However, the current understanding of microplastic (MP; <5 mm) particles in livestock, which serve as an important food source, is limited. This study aims to investigate the abundance and characteristics of MPs in edible tissues of cow and sheep, namely liver, meat, and tripe, obtained from butcher shops in five areas of Bushehr port, Iran. The average concentration of MPs in different tissues of cow and sheep were 0.14 and 0.13 items/g, respectively. Among the examined tissues, cow meat exhibited the highest concentration of MPs, with a concentration of 0.19 items/g. Nylon and fiber were identified as the predominant polymer types and shapes of MPs found in cow and sheep tissues, respectively. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was observed in MP abundance across different tissues of cow and sheep. Significantly, this study highlights the elevated risks associated with exposure to MPs through the consumption of edible cow and sheep tissues, particularly for children who consume meat. The results underscore the potential transfer of MPs from the environment to livestock bodies through their food, potential accumulation within their tissues, and subsequent health risks for consumers.