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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Quail Meat Under Threat: Hidden Microplastics Pose Risks to Public Health and Environment
ClearThe impact of polyethylene microplastics exposure on the, growth performance, reproductive performance, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota of quails
Researchers fed quails different levels of polyethylene microplastics and found that exposure harmed their growth, reproduction, and gut health. The microplastics reduced antioxidant defenses and disrupted the balance of beneficial bacteria in the birds' intestines. Since poultry is a major food source for people, microplastic contamination in farm animals raises concerns about indirect human exposure through the food chain.
Microplastics in poultry: Sources, bioaccumulation and human health consequences
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.
Harmful impacts of microplastic pollution on poultry and biodegradation techniques using microorganisms for consumer health protection: A review
This review examines how microplastic pollution affects poultry health and food safety, finding that microplastics have been detected in chicken meat from supermarkets and open markets. Evidence indicates that microplastics can damage vital organs in poultry, reduce egg production, and accumulate in edible tissues. The authors also review biodegradation techniques using microorganisms as a potential strategy for reducing microplastic contamination in the food supply.
The sources and impact of microplastic intake on livestock and poultry performance and meat products: a review
This review examined how microplastics affect livestock and poultry health, productivity, and the safety of meat products. Researchers found that while lab experiments show microplastics can cause oxidative stress and inflammation at high concentrations, it remains unclear whether typical environmental exposure levels affect animal welfare or productivity. Microplastics were detected in animal tissues at levels that raise potential consumer safety concerns, though current detection methods are prone to contamination.
Microplastic Contamination in Commercial Poultry Feed and Edible Chicken Tissues: An Emerging Environmental Concer
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.
First Report on Microplastics Quantification in Poultry Chicken and Potential Human Health Risks in Pakistan
Researchers in Pakistan found microplastics in the crops and gizzards of poultry chickens from eight different farms, identifying over 1,200 particles across 24 samples. Fibers were the most common type, likely coming from plastic feed bags and the farm environment. Since chicken is a major protein source, this study reveals another pathway through which microplastics may enter the human diet.
Microplastic Fragments from Poultry Entrails in Wet Markets from South Caloocan, Philippines
Researchers detected microplastic fragments in poultry entrails from wet markets in the Philippines, finding that market chickens carry MPs that could pose food safety risks to consumers and reflect broader environmental contamination.
Impact of microplastic intake via poultry products: Environmental toxicity and human health
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.
Characteristics of microplastics in typical poultry farms and the association of environment microplastics colonized-microbiota, waterfowl gut microbiota, and antibiotic resistance genes
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in poultry farm environments and in the intestines of farm-raised waterfowl for the first time. They found microplastics in soil, pond water, and bird guts, with the plastic surfaces hosting microbial communities that carried antibiotic resistance genes. This raises dual concerns: microplastics may both contaminate poultry meat that humans eat and help spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria through farming environments.
Assessment of microplastics in commercial meat: a comparison between raw and processed products
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in commercial meat products, comparing raw and processed forms to assess human dietary exposure. Microplastic particles were detected across multiple meat types, with processing steps influencing both the concentration and type of particles present.
Microplastics in Farmed Animals—A Review
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.
Microplastic Contamination in Aquafeed Ingredients Used as Protein and Carbohydrate Sources
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in common aquafeed ingredients used as protein and carbohydrate sources. They found that poultry by-products had the highest microplastic levels, with polypropylene being a dominant polymer type likely originating from packaging materials. The study identifies a pathway by which microplastics can enter aquaculture food chains through contaminated feed ingredients.
From farm to fork: Microplastic contamination in the meat and dairy supply chain
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.
Exposure of U.S. adults to microplastics from commonly-consumed proteins
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in 16 commonly consumed protein products in the United States, including seafoods, terrestrial meats, and plant-based proteins at three levels of processing. Microplastics were detected across all protein categories, with highly processed products generally containing more particles than minimally processed ones.
Widespread microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in the intestines of birds: A case study from Chengdu, China
Researchers found microplastics and nanoplastics in the intestines of 49 bird species in Chengdu, China, with PVC and chlorinated polyethylene being the most common types. Nanoplastics, which are harder to detect and potentially more harmful, were confirmed in five species using advanced analytical methods. The widespread contamination across many bird species suggests that microplastic pollution has thoroughly penetrated terrestrial food webs, not just marine environments.
The ingestion of microplastics affects the diversity of the gut microbiome and testicular development in Japanese quail
This study examined how microplastic ingestion affects gut microbiome diversity and composition in an animal model, finding that microplastic exposure alters microbial community structure in ways that may impair digestive and immune function.
Micro-nanoplastics in livestock and poultry: Emerging components of food matrices
This review compiles evidence on the presence of micro- and nanoplastics in livestock and poultry meat from 146 studies spanning 2015 to 2025. Researchers found that microplastic accumulation in food animals can reduce growth performance, alter meat quality, and impair reproductive function. The study highlights the need for standardized detection methods to enable reliable exposure assessments for consumers of animal-derived foods.
Exposure of U.S. adults to microplastics from commonly-consumed proteins
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in 16 protein foods purchased in the US, including seafoods, meats, and plant-based products at different processing levels. Microplastics were detected across all protein categories, with processing level influencing contamination amounts.
Assessment of microplastics in commercial meat: a comparison between raw and processed products
Researchers compared microplastic contamination in raw versus processed commercial meats, finding that processing steps can introduce or increase microplastic levels. The study highlights food processing as an underappreciated pathway for microplastic exposure in terrestrial animal products.
Microplastic exposure induces muscle growth but reduces meat quality and muscle physiological function in chickens
Researchers found microplastic contamination in chicken muscle tissue from a commercial farm and showed that feeding chickens polystyrene microplastics caused the plastics to accumulate in their muscles over time. While the contaminated chickens grew larger muscles, their meat quality and muscle function decreased. This study is important because it demonstrates that microplastics can build up in poultry meat, meaning people may be consuming microplastics through chicken.
Microplastics contamination in commercial fish meal and feed: a major concern in the cultured organisms
Researchers analyzed commercial fish meal and animal feed samples and found microplastics in all of them, with fish meal containing up to 1,154 particles per kilogram. The contaminated feed is given to farmed fish, shrimp, and chicken, creating a pathway for microplastics to reach humans through the food supply. Feed made from dried fish had higher contamination levels than feed from fresh fish, and the microplastics also carried toxic heavy metals.
Effects of Microplastics on Animal Health and Nutrition
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 manure: Sources, analytical methods, toxicodynamic, and toxicokinetic endpoints in livestock and poultry
Researchers reviewed the occurrence of microplastics in livestock and poultry manure, finding hundreds to thousands of particles per kilogram depending on the animal, with plastic-contaminated feed and mulching films as the primary sources. Because manure is widely spread on farmland as fertilizer, it represents a significant — and underappreciated — pathway for microplastics to enter agricultural soils and ultimately the food chain.
Microplastics: a potential threat to gut microbiota and antioxidant capacity of broiler chickens
Researchers investigated the effects of microplastic exposure on broiler chickens and found significant increases in liver enzyme and oxidative stress markers alongside decreased antioxidant capacity. The study also revealed substantial disruption to gut microbiota, with reduced diversity and altered microbial community structure affecting energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and other key functions.