What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to investigate the transfer and surface changes of microplastics in a terrestrial food chain involving earthworms and chickens.

May 16, 2026Open Access

Transfer quantification and surface changes of microplastics along the earthworm-chicken food chain

Key Points

This research aims to investigate the transfer and surface changes of microplastics in a terrestrial food chain involving earthworms and chickens.
Employed luminescent polystyrene microplastics to trace transfer along the earthworm-chicken food chain
Identified poultry gastrointestinal tracts as sites for microplastic fragmentation and surface alterations
Demonstrated the gizzard's significant role in the mechanical degradation of microplastics
Confirmed chickens as biovectors that produce secondary microplastics, enhancing their environmental mobility

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have entered the terrestrial food chain, posing potential health risks to humans through trophic transfer.Currently, our understanding of MP transfer and surface weathering characteristics in terrestrial food chains remains incomplete.This study employed luminescent polystyrene MPs to quantify MP transfer along a terrestrial "earthworm-chicken" food chain, identifying poultry gastrointestinal tracts as active sites for MP fragmentation and surface changes.Our results demonstrate the gizzard's important role in mechanical MP degradation and confirm chickens as biovectors that generate secondary MPs while enhancing environmental MP mobility.

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