Title:Describing the Accumulation, Concentration, and Amplification Effects of
MPs Through the Food Chain
Volume: 21
Issue: 4
Author(s): Ulku Dagdelen, Dogan Turkyilmaz and Nurinisa Esenbuga*
Affiliation:
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ataturk, Erzurum, 25240, Turkey
Keywords:
Microplastics, livestock, food chain, atmosphere, nutrients, COVID-19.
Abstract: Microplastics (MP) are new pollutants that threaten the ecological environment and,
therefore, human and animal health. Given the extensive utilization of plastics across various domains,
MPs are commonly detected in the atmosphere, water bodies, terrestrial regions, and living
organisms. Important accumulation points of MPs are air, soil, and water ecosystems. This study
aims to summarize how animals are exposed to environmental MPs, identify the specific organs
where these MPs accumulate, and assess the risks associated with different foods. The urrent research
on MP pollution in ecosystems generally focuses on organisms living in water and soil, but
unfortunately, there are significant deficiencies in the transmission routes of MPs in the food
chain from soil to table. MPs build up in animals across the food chain, and their presence in animal-
derived food products intensifies during processing and packaging. The transfer of MPs to
food-producing animals has been understudied, particularly with regard to the important role of
livestock in converting plant nutrients into proteins required for human consumption. It is understood
that more research is needed, especially for contamination in animal foods. Conducting comprehensive
risk assessments of MPs throughout the entire food chain is extremely important for
food safety.