Field evidence for transfer of plastic debris along a terrestrial food chain

Summary

Although plastic pollution happens globally, the micro- (<5 mm) and macroplastic (5-150 mm) transfer of plastic to terrestrial species relevant to human consumption has not been examined. We provide first-time evidence for micro- and macroplastic transfer from soil to chickens in traditional Mayan home gardens in Southeast Mexico where waste mismanagement is common. We assessed micro- and macroplastic in soil, earthworm casts, chicken feces, crops and gizzards (used for human consumption). Microplastic concentrations increased from soil (0.87 ± 1.9 particles g^-1), to earthworm casts (14.8 ± 28.8 particles g^-1), to chicken feces (129.8 ± 82.3 particles g^-1). Chicken gizzards contained 10.2 ± 13.8 microplastic particles, while no microplastic was found in cro