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Microplastic pollution in eggs impairs chick development by disrupting yolk sac function and intestinal homeostasis
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Researchers detected microplastics in all commercial chicken eggs tested (average 17 μg/g), confirmed maternal transfer by finding polystyrene and polyethylene in all ovarian follicles, and showed that injecting polystyrene nanoplastics into yolk sacs disrupted yolk sac function and intestinal development in chicks.
This study quantitatively assessed microplastic contamination in commercial chicken eggs and hen ovarian follicles. Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and Laser Direct Infrared Analysis (LDIR) analyses revealed universal microplastic contamination. The dominant polymers-polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene-reached concentrations of up to 227 μg/g, averaging 17.0 μg/g per egg. Crucially, maternal transfer was confirmed, with polystyrene and polyethylene detected in all ovarian follicles (6/6) at mean concentrations of 8.1 and 61.0 μg/g, respectively. To evaluate toxicity, polystyrene nanoplastics were injected into yolk sacs at 0.2, 1.0, and 5.0 mg/egg, a range where the medium dose modeled detected levels while low and high doses established dose-response relationships. Exposure caused dose-dependent growth retardation (14-day body weight: 75.4 g vs. 91.6 g in controls) and intestinal villus atrophy (556 μm vs. 787 μm). Mechanistically, transcriptomics identified disrupted autophagic flux and epithelial junctions as key toxicity pathways. This study emphasizes the potential health risks of dietary microplastic exposure.
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Microplastics contamination in eggs: Detection, occurrence and status
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Researchers detected microplastics in commercially sold chicken eggs for the first time, finding an average of nearly 12 particles per egg. Most particles were spherical polyethylene in the 50 to 100 micrometer size range, and egg yolks contained more microplastics than egg whites, with cooking having no significant effect on the count. The study highlights eggs as another dietary pathway for human microplastic exposure and calls for measures to address contamination in the food supply.
Polystyrene Nanoplastics Exposure Alters Gut Microbiota and Correlates with Egg Quality Parameters in Chickens
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Researchers exposed chickens to 100 nm nanoplastics through their diet for 120 days and found that the particles accumulated in intestinal tissues, causing structural damage including villus atrophy and goblet cell depletion. The study also revealed significant gut microbiota disruption and correlations with reduced egg quality parameters, suggesting nanoplastic exposure may affect both poultry health and productivity.
Polystyrene microplastics compromise intestinal health and reduce growth and slaughter performance of Chahua chicken No. 2
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Chickens of a native Chinese breed given polystyrene microplastics in drinking water showed reduced growth and weight at higher doses, along with damaged intestinal lining, increased inflammation markers, disrupted nutrient transport genes, and altered gut bacteria.
Immunomodulatory and biochemical alterations in chick embryos exposed to polystyrene microplastics
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Chick embryos were exposed to polystyrene microplastics at 150 and 300 ug/ml to assess effects on immune system function and key biochemical markers over an incubation period. The study documented immunomodulatory changes and biochemical alterations, raising concerns about developmental effects of microplastic exposure in avian models.
Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics on Bird Embryo Development by Hatching without Eggshell
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Microplastics added to bird eggs during development caused abnormalities and reduced hatching success in an eggshell-free incubation model. The findings suggest that microplastics can disrupt avian embryo development, with implications for wildlife populations in contaminated environments.
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