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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.
Nowadays, the widespread distribution of microplastics (MPs) in various foods has received much attention. In this study, eggs were purchased as samples from local supermarkets to detect and analyze the presence of MPs. The digestion method was optimized for eggs to better isolate MPs, which proved MPs indeed exist in eggs, and the average content was 11.67 ± 3.98 particles/egg. The shape and size range of most MPs were spherical and 50-100 μm. The infrared results showed that the main type of MPs in eggs was polyethylene. The number of MPs in egg yolk was higher than that in egg white, and there was no significant change after cooking. In addition, the daily human intake of MPs was estimated. Therefore, the results of this study provided a background for the current status and pollution of MPs in eggs, and proposed the necessary control and preventive measures to avoid this situation.
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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.
Unscrambling why plastics aren't detectable in chicken eggs.
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Australian researchers tested chicken eggs from four commercial production systems and backyard hens for seven common plastic polymers and found plastics were not detectable at measurable levels. The study provides reassurance about this food group while also highlighting methodological challenges in detecting microplastics in fatty matrices like egg yolk.
Microplastic Contamination in Edible Tissues of Broiler and Free -Range Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) from Nigeria: Polymer and Morphological Characterisation Using ATR-FTIR and SEM with Comparison of KOH and Fenton Digestion Protocols
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Researchers found tiny plastic particles, including common types like polyethylene and polystyrene, in the liver, heart, and muscle of chickens sold in Nigeria, with the liver most contaminated. Since chicken is a widely eaten food, this suggests poultry could be a hidden way people are exposed to microplastics, though more research is needed to understand health risks.
Microplastic Contamination in Commercial Poultry Feed and Edible Chicken Tissues: An Emerging Environmental Concer
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in commercial poultry feed and edible chicken tissues from farms near Rajshahi City, Bangladesh, finding microplastics in all samples tested. Feed samples contained an average of 18.7 microplastic particles per gram, while chicken meat averaged 0.95 particles per gram, with fibers being the dominant shape. The study raises concerns about the transfer of microplastics from feed to edible poultry tissues as a pathway for human dietary exposure.
Impact of microplastic intake via poultry products: Environmental toxicity and human health
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This review examines how microplastics enter the human diet through poultry products like chicken meat and eggs. Microplastics from contaminated feed, water, and farm environments accumulate in poultry tissues and are then passed to consumers. The study highlights that this food chain transfer represents an underappreciated pathway of human exposure, with potential risks including inflammation, gut disruption, and accumulation of toxic chemicals carried by the plastic particles.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.