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Microplastics in Internal Tissues of Companion Animals from Urban Environments
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In a preliminary study, researchers examined internal tissues from 25 dogs and 24 cats living in an urban area in Portugal for microplastic contamination. Suspected microplastics were found in 80 tissue samples from 35 animals, occurring in lungs, intestines, liver, kidneys, and blood, suggesting that companion animals are routinely exposed to microplastics in urban environments.
Companion animals living in urban areas are exposed to environmental contaminants, which may include microplastics. A preliminary study was conducted by collecting postmortem samples from the internal tissue (lungs, ileum, liver, kidney, and blood clots) of 25 dogs (Canis familiaris) and 24 cats (Felis catus) living in an urban environment in Porto metropolitan area, Portugal. Suspected microplastics were found in 80 samples from 35 animals (18 cats and 17 dogs), often occurring in more than one tissue of the same animal (71.4%), primarily under small sizes (50.3% as 1-10 µm). Micro-Raman spectroscopy confirmed a fraction of particles as common polymer types (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate). However, the number of particles was very low. This study highlights the possibilities of the internalization and distribution of microplastics in the internal tissues of terrestrial vertebrates.
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in organs and tissues of fish, seabirds, and marine and terrestrial mammals from a polluted coastal area near Bergen, Norway. They found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts and other organs of multiple species, with polymer types and concentrations varying across animals. The study provides important baseline data on microplastic accumulation in wild coastal species relevant to human food chains.
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