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The Environmental Pathways and Veterinary Health Implications of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Emerging Contaminants from a One Health Perspective
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This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics enter animal-based food products including milk, poultry meat, and eggs, and what this means for both veterinary and human health from a One Health perspective. Researchers found that these particles have been documented in various livestock products, but significant gaps remain in understanding contamination from raw, unprocessed sources. The study emphasizes the need for standardized detection methods and farm-to-fork monitoring to identify real contamination sources and develop effective control strategies.
Animal-based foods provide a major source of human exposure. MPs and NPs have been observed in milk and poultry products, such as packaged meat and eggs (mean 11.67 ± 3.98 particles/egg). There is still a research gap on raw milk taken directly from the teat and on raw eggs that have not been handled or packaged. This gap makes it hard to identify real contamination sources and control strategies. The review stresses the need for harmonized detection methods (especially for NPs), monitoring from farm to fork, and practical ways to reduce plastic use on farms and minimize contamination during processing, feed handling, and packaging.
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This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles show up in everyday animal foods like milk, meat, fish, honey, and eggs, often coming from processing and packaging. However, testing methods vary so much between studies that scientists can't yet agree on how much microplastic we're really eating or how worried we should be. More standardized testing is needed before clear health guidance can follow.
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This review evaluated the prevalence, pathways, and risks of microplastic contamination in meat and dairy products across the supply chain. Researchers found persistent microplastic presence in livestock tissues, poultry organs, processed meats, raw milk, and commercial dairy products, with common polymers including polyethylene and polypropylene, raising concerns about food safety from farm to fork.
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