The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers
Microplastics (MPs) and artificial fibers (AFs) have been detected suspended tens of meters above ground level in the atmosphere, yet empirical data on them remain scarce. This study aimed to investigate the presence of MPs and AFs in the digestive and respiratory systems of two abundant bird specie...
Published in: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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2024
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 https://doaj.org/article/0c9e6843be63411b908068a1a5fc6378 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:0c9e6843be63411b908068a1a5fc6378 2024-09-15T17:49:29+00:00 The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers Chloe Wayman Francisca Fernández-Piñas Rocío Fernández-Valeriano Gonzalo Anibarro García-Baquero Irene López-Márquez Fernando González-González Roberto Rosal Miguel González-Pleiter 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 https://doaj.org/article/0c9e6843be63411b908068a1a5fc6378 EN eng Elsevier http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324008200 https://doaj.org/toc/0147-6513 0147-6513 doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 https://doaj.org/article/0c9e6843be63411b908068a1a5fc6378 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Vol 282, Iss , Pp 116744- (2024) Artificial fibers Atmosphere Bioindicators Birds Fibers Microplastics Environmental pollution TD172-193.5 Environmental sciences GE1-350 article 2024 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 2024-08-19T14:56:39Z Microplastics (MPs) and artificial fibers (AFs) have been detected suspended tens of meters above ground level in the atmosphere, yet empirical data on them remain scarce. This study aimed to investigate the presence of MPs and AFs in the digestive and respiratory systems of two abundant bird species, the Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum) and the Common Swift (Apus apus), within the Community of Madrid, Spain. Given that these birds spend the majority of their lives airborne, engaging in activities such as mating and sleeping during flight, the research sought to assess the potential of using these bird species as bioindicators for suspended atmospheric MPs and AFs. Samples were obtained from necropsies of birds (N = 24) collected primarily between spring and summer from 2021 to 2023. Only individuals that died within the initial 24-hour period and had not been fed were selected for examination to avoid contamination. MPs and AFS were identified by micro-FTIR, characterized and quantified. Results revealed that 75 % of the sampled birds exhibited at least one MPs in their respiratory and/or digestive system. All identified MPs were fibers, with polyester (PES) being the most predominant (48 %), followed by acrylic fibers (ACR; 28 %), and polyethylene (PE; 18 %). The average concentrations in the respiratory system were 1.12 ± 0.45 MPs/specimen and 2.78 ± 1.04 AFs/specimen for Common Swift and 0.75 ± 0.30 MPs/specimen and 0.75 ± 0.36 AFs/specimen for House Martin. In the digestive system, these were 1.92 ± 0.72 MPs/specimen and 3.42 ± 0.69 AFs/specimen for Common Swift, and 1.34 ± 0.50 MPs/specimen and 1.39 ± 0.47 AFs/specimen for House Martin. Birds collected areas with high population density located in the direction of the prevailing winds showed a concentration of MPs significantly higher in the digestive system. Taken together, these findings confirmed the potential use of these birds as bioindicators for monitoring of suspended atmospheric MPs and AFs. Article in Journal/Newspaper Apus apus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 282 116744 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Artificial fibers Atmosphere Bioindicators Birds Fibers Microplastics Environmental pollution TD172-193.5 Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
spellingShingle |
Artificial fibers Atmosphere Bioindicators Birds Fibers Microplastics Environmental pollution TD172-193.5 Environmental sciences GE1-350 Chloe Wayman Francisca Fernández-Piñas Rocío Fernández-Valeriano Gonzalo Anibarro García-Baquero Irene López-Márquez Fernando González-González Roberto Rosal Miguel González-Pleiter The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers |
topic_facet |
Artificial fibers Atmosphere Bioindicators Birds Fibers Microplastics Environmental pollution TD172-193.5 Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
description |
Microplastics (MPs) and artificial fibers (AFs) have been detected suspended tens of meters above ground level in the atmosphere, yet empirical data on them remain scarce. This study aimed to investigate the presence of MPs and AFs in the digestive and respiratory systems of two abundant bird species, the Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum) and the Common Swift (Apus apus), within the Community of Madrid, Spain. Given that these birds spend the majority of their lives airborne, engaging in activities such as mating and sleeping during flight, the research sought to assess the potential of using these bird species as bioindicators for suspended atmospheric MPs and AFs. Samples were obtained from necropsies of birds (N = 24) collected primarily between spring and summer from 2021 to 2023. Only individuals that died within the initial 24-hour period and had not been fed were selected for examination to avoid contamination. MPs and AFS were identified by micro-FTIR, characterized and quantified. Results revealed that 75 % of the sampled birds exhibited at least one MPs in their respiratory and/or digestive system. All identified MPs were fibers, with polyester (PES) being the most predominant (48 %), followed by acrylic fibers (ACR; 28 %), and polyethylene (PE; 18 %). The average concentrations in the respiratory system were 1.12 ± 0.45 MPs/specimen and 2.78 ± 1.04 AFs/specimen for Common Swift and 0.75 ± 0.30 MPs/specimen and 0.75 ± 0.36 AFs/specimen for House Martin. In the digestive system, these were 1.92 ± 0.72 MPs/specimen and 3.42 ± 0.69 AFs/specimen for Common Swift, and 1.34 ± 0.50 MPs/specimen and 1.39 ± 0.47 AFs/specimen for House Martin. Birds collected areas with high population density located in the direction of the prevailing winds showed a concentration of MPs significantly higher in the digestive system. Taken together, these findings confirmed the potential use of these birds as bioindicators for monitoring of suspended atmospheric MPs and AFs. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Chloe Wayman Francisca Fernández-Piñas Rocío Fernández-Valeriano Gonzalo Anibarro García-Baquero Irene López-Márquez Fernando González-González Roberto Rosal Miguel González-Pleiter |
author_facet |
Chloe Wayman Francisca Fernández-Piñas Rocío Fernández-Valeriano Gonzalo Anibarro García-Baquero Irene López-Márquez Fernando González-González Roberto Rosal Miguel González-Pleiter |
author_sort |
Chloe Wayman |
title |
The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers |
title_short |
The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers |
title_full |
The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers |
title_fullStr |
The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers |
title_full_unstemmed |
The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers |
title_sort |
potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 https://doaj.org/article/0c9e6843be63411b908068a1a5fc6378 |
genre |
Apus apus |
genre_facet |
Apus apus |
op_source |
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Vol 282, Iss , Pp 116744- (2024) |
op_relation |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324008200 https://doaj.org/toc/0147-6513 0147-6513 doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 https://doaj.org/article/0c9e6843be63411b908068a1a5fc6378 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 |
container_title |
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
container_volume |
282 |
container_start_page |
116744 |
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1810291232503496704 |