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...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39018735 |
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ftpubmed:39018735 2024-09-15T17:49:29+00:00 The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers. Wayman, Chloe Fernández-Piñas, Francisca Fernández-Valeriano, Rocío García-Baquero, Gonzalo Anibarro López-Márquez, Irene González-González, Fernando Rosal, Roberto González-Pleiter, Miguel 2024 Jul 16 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39018735 eng eng Elsevier Science https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39018735 Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf ISSN:1090-2414 Volume:282 Artificial fibers Atmosphere Bioindicators Birds Fibers Microplastics Journal Article 2024 ftpubmed https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 2024-07-18T16:03:00Z 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 PubMed Central (PMC) Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 282 116744 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
PubMed Central (PMC) |
op_collection_id |
ftpubmed |
language |
English |
topic |
Artificial fibers Atmosphere Bioindicators Birds Fibers Microplastics |
spellingShingle |
Artificial fibers Atmosphere Bioindicators Birds Fibers Microplastics Wayman, Chloe Fernández-Piñas, Francisca Fernández-Valeriano, Rocío García-Baquero, Gonzalo Anibarro López-Márquez, Irene González-González, Fernando Rosal, Roberto González-Pleiter, Miguel The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers. |
topic_facet |
Artificial fibers Atmosphere Bioindicators Birds Fibers Microplastics |
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 |
Wayman, Chloe Fernández-Piñas, Francisca Fernández-Valeriano, Rocío García-Baquero, Gonzalo Anibarro López-Márquez, Irene González-González, Fernando Rosal, Roberto González-Pleiter, Miguel |
author_facet |
Wayman, Chloe Fernández-Piñas, Francisca Fernández-Valeriano, Rocío García-Baquero, Gonzalo Anibarro López-Márquez, Irene González-González, Fernando Rosal, Roberto González-Pleiter, Miguel |
author_sort |
Wayman, Chloe |
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 Science |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39018735 |
genre |
Apus apus |
genre_facet |
Apus apus |
op_source |
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf ISSN:1090-2414 Volume:282 |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39018735 |
op_rights |
Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
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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1810291232310558720 |