Microplastic Fragments from Poultry Entrails in Wet Markets from South Caloocan, Philippines

Abstract Microplastics (MPs) have been recorded in different ecosystems, posing the risk of disrupting natural processes in the environment and causing harm to organisms that ingest them. In the Philippines, MPs have been found on various coastlines, freshwater bodies, and both fresh and saltwater creatures. Furthermore, MPs have been observed to interact with human gut microbiota and pose toxic risks in mice guts. With this, the study aimed to examine the occurrence of MPs in the entrails of Gallus gallus domesticus, the domestic chicken, which is a staple food in the Philippines. Gizzards and intestines from samples collected in seven sites across South Caloocan, Philippines were isolated and digested with a 10% potassium hydroxide solution in a 60℃ oven overnight. The resulting filtrates were then scrutinised for microplastics with a compound microscope. Microplastic contamination was found in the intestines of chicken from five sites, and in the gizzards of chicken from three sites. An intensive literature review suggests that microplastics may have entered chickens directly from the food chain or through the contaminated feeds.