Summary
This field study provides the first empirical evidence that micro- and macroplastic particles transfer from contaminated soil to edible poultry tissues in terrestrial food webs, demonstrated in traditional home gardens where waste management is inadequate. Microplastic concentrations increased along the pathway from soil to earthworm casts to chicken faeces, with chicken gizzards accumulating measurable plastic loads whilst crops accumulated lower levels. The findings indicate that plastic pollution of agricultural soils poses a direct contamination pathway for human consumption through livestock, raising concerns for food safety in regions with poor waste management.
UK applicability
Whilst the study was conducted in Mexico, the underlying mechanism—plastic accumulation in poultry via soil ingestion—is relevant to UK farming systems where plastic mulches, compost amendments, and waste mismanagement are present. UK regulatory frameworks and waste management practices differ substantially, but the research highlights a potential food safety concern warranting investigation in UK poultry production, particularly in smallholder or organic systems that may use contaminated compost or soil amendments.
Key measures
Microplastic particle concentration (particles g⁻¹) in soil, earthworm casts, and chicken faeces; microplastic and macroplastic particle counts in chicken gizzards and crops; particle size distribution (1–10 mm category)
Outcomes reported
The study measured concentrations of micro- and macroplastic particles in soil, earthworm casts, chicken faeces, crops, and chicken gizzards in traditional Mayan home gardens. It documented the transfer pathway and accumulation of plastic debris from soil through the food chain to edible chicken tissue.
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