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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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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2024
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10486/714147 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 |
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ftuamadrid:oai:repositorio.uam.es:10486/714147 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 Anibarro García-Baquero, Gonzalo López Márquez, Irene González González, Fernando Rosal García, Roberto González Pleiter, Miguel UAM. Departamento de Biología 2024-07-23T11:12:18Z application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/10486/714147 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 eng eng Elsevier Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 Gobierno de España. PID2020–113769RB-C21 Gobierno de España. PID2020–113769RB-C22 Gobierno de España. TED2021–131609B-C33 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 282 (2024): 116744 0147-6513 (print) http://hdl.handle.net/10486/714147 doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 116744-1 116744-9 282 © 2024 The Authors http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Reconocimiento – NoComercial openAccess Artificial Fibers Atmosphere Bioindicators Birds Fibers Microplastics Biología y Biomedicina / Biología article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2024 ftuamadrid https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 2024-07-30T23:42:19Z 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 PID2020–113769RB-C21/C22, TED2021–131609B-C33 Article in Journal/Newspaper Apus apus Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM): Biblos-e Archivo Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 282 116744 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM): Biblos-e Archivo |
op_collection_id |
ftuamadrid |
language |
English |
topic |
Artificial Fibers Atmosphere Bioindicators Birds Fibers Microplastics Biología y Biomedicina / Biología |
spellingShingle |
Artificial Fibers Atmosphere Bioindicators Birds Fibers Microplastics Biología y Biomedicina / Biología Wayman, Chloe Fernández Piñas, Francisca Fernández Valeriano, Rocío Anibarro García-Baquero, Gonzalo López Márquez, Irene González González, Fernando Rosal García, 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 Biología y Biomedicina / Biología |
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 PID2020–113769RB-C21/C22, TED2021–131609B-C33 |
author2 |
UAM. Departamento de Biología |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Wayman, Chloe Fernández Piñas, Francisca Fernández Valeriano, Rocío Anibarro García-Baquero, Gonzalo López Márquez, Irene González González, Fernando Rosal García, Roberto González Pleiter, Miguel |
author_facet |
Wayman, Chloe Fernández Piñas, Francisca Fernández Valeriano, Rocío Anibarro García-Baquero, Gonzalo López Márquez, Irene González González, Fernando Rosal García, 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 |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10486/714147 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 |
genre |
Apus apus |
genre_facet |
Apus apus |
op_relation |
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 Gobierno de España. PID2020–113769RB-C21 Gobierno de España. PID2020–113769RB-C22 Gobierno de España. TED2021–131609B-C33 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 282 (2024): 116744 0147-6513 (print) http://hdl.handle.net/10486/714147 doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116744 116744-1 116744-9 282 |
op_rights |
© 2024 The Authors http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Reconocimiento – NoComercial openAccess |
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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1810291233919074304 |