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Micro- and Nanoplastic-Mediated Pathophysiological Changes in Rodents, Rabbits, and Chickens: A Review
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This review examines how micro- and nanoplastic exposure through food and water affects terrestrial mammals and farm animals, including rodents, rabbits, and chickens. Researchers found that these particles can breach the intestinal barrier, accumulate in organs, disrupt gut microbiomes, alter metabolism, and cause neurotoxicity in animal studies. The findings raise concerns about potential food safety implications and highlight the need for further research on foodborne microplastic toxicity.
ABSTRACT: Plastics provide tremendous societal benefits and are an indispensable part of our lives. However, fragmented plastics or those intentionally manufactured in small sizes (microplastics and nanoplastics) are of concern because they can infiltrate soils and enter the human food chain through trophic transfer. The pathophysiological impacts of micro- and nanoplastics in humans are not characterized, but their effects in terrestrial mammals may help elucidate their potential effects in humans. Rodent studies have demonstrated that micro- and nanoplastics can breach the intestinal barrier, accumulate in various organs, cause gut dysbosis, decrease mucus secretion, induce metabolic alterations, and cause neurotoxicity, among other pathophysiologic effects. Larger mammals such as rabbits can also absorb microplastics orally. In farm animals such as chickens, microplastics have been detected in the gut, thereby raising food safety concerns. This review mostly focuses on studies conducted to assess effects of micro- and nanoplastic exposure through food and water in terrestrial mammals and farm animals including rodents, rabbits, and chickens; identifies main knowledge gaps; and provides recommendations for further research to understand foodborne micro- and nanoplastic toxicity in humans.
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Effects of Microplastics on Animal Health and Nutrition
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This review summarizes the current understanding of how microplastic ingestion affects animal health across multiple species including livestock, poultry, and aquatic organisms. Researchers found that microplastics can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of gut function in animals, with smaller particles posing greater risks due to their ability to cross biological barriers. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in feed and water sources is an emerging concern for animal agriculture and nutrition.
Microplastics in Farmed Animals—A Review
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This review summarizes research on microplastic contamination in farmed animals including fish, cattle, and poultry, finding that microplastics have been detected in their intestines, liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive organs. The particles disrupt gut bacteria, cause tissue damage, and carry toxic chemicals and pathogens. Since these animals are raised for human consumption, microplastics in livestock represent a direct pathway for plastic contamination to reach people through their diet.
Microplastics in poultry: Sources, bioaccumulation and human health consequences
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This review examines how microplastics enter and accumulate in poultry through contaminated feed, water, litter, and farm equipment. Researchers found that ingested microplastics can accumulate in birds' gastrointestinal tracts, livers, kidneys, and muscle tissues, disrupting metabolic, immune, and reproductive functions and potentially impairing growth and meat quality. The study highlights that contaminated poultry products may serve as a route of microplastic transmission to human consumers.
Nanoplastics: Methods, Exposure and Effects on Domestic, Farm and Wild Animals
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This review pulls together existing research on how tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics affect farm animals, pets, and wildlife—and the findings are concerning: these particles can disrupt gut bacteria, harm reproduction, and damage the nervous system in animals exposed through food, water, and air. Since farm animals are part of our food supply, nanoplastics building up in their bodies could potentially make their way into the food we eat, though scientists still lack good tools to fully measure this risk. The takeaway is that plastic pollution isn't just an environmental problem—it may be quietly working its way up the food chain toward us, and we need
Effects of Microplastics on Animal Health and Nutrition Year 2024, Volume: 21 Issue: 2, 72 - 77, 02.08.2024
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This review examined the effects of microplastics on animal health and nutrition, summarizing experimental evidence across livestock, poultry, and aquaculture species and identifying pathways by which dietary plastic exposure affects growth and feed efficiency.
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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.