Detection of microplastics in domestic and fetal pigs’ lung tissue in natural environment: A preliminary study

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment. However, it is unclear whether MPs are present in mammalian lungs through inhalation, and if so, could be possibly found in fetal tissues. In this study, we aim to determine the presence and characteristics of particles in domestic and fetal pig lung tissue in the natural environment. Specimens from the lungs of domestic pigs (n = 10) and fetal pigs that already died in matrix during vaginal birth from the non-contaminated area (n = 10) were obtained from farmers' nearby sludge treatment plant. These specimens were compressed between two glass microscope slides, which were examined under polarized light microscopy. In addition, Agilent 8700 LDIR Chemical imaging system (LDIR) was used to determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of MPs. According to the polarized light microscope survey of domestic pig lungs, we observed an average of 12 particles/g, which was more than the 6 particles/g observed in fetal pig lungs, which ranged in size from 115.14 μm to 1370.43 μm. All the observed MP particles were fiber in shape. LDIR indicated an average of 180 particles/g of domestic pig lungs, ranging in size from 20.34 μm to 916.36 μm, which was twice as many MPs observed in fetal pig lungs. Furthermore, the compositions of MPs were different between them. LDIR indicated that polyamide (PA) was the most common polymer identified in domestic pig lungs (46.11%), while polycarbonate (PC) was the most common polymer in fetal pig lungs (32.99%). These findings confirmed the presence of MPs in the lung tissue of both domestic and fetal pigs in the natural environment, but the main characteristics differed. This fact indicated the increasing risk of MPs to human respiratory tract is increasing. Further research should be conducted to entirely estimate the specific exposure level on humans and offspring.