Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging environmental health concern due to their widespread occurrence in food sources such as fish, meat, chicken, honey, sugar, salt, tea and drinking water, thereby posing possible risks to human health. This study aimed to observe the existence of MPs in the crop and gizzard of the farm chicken, a significant food source in Pakistan. Twenty-four chicken samples were taken from eight poultry farms across Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 1227 MP particles were found from 24 samples (crop and gizzards) originating from the 8 poultry farms. In all, 429 MP particles were found in 24 chicken crops, with a mean of 17.8 ± 12.1 MPs/crop. In contrast, 798 MP particles were found in 24 chicken gizzards, with a mean of 33.25 ± 17.8 MPs/gizzard. Comparatively larger particles, ranging between 300–500 µm, were more abundant (63%) than other considered sizes (300–150 µm [21%] and 150–50 µm [16%]). Additionally, fragments were the dominant type of shape in both sample types (crop [64%] and gizzard [53%]). The predominant colours of particles extracted from gizzards and crops were yellow (32%) and red (32%), respectively. Chemical characterisation of these particles detected four types of polymers: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) at 51.2%, followed by low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at 30.7%, polystyrene (PS) at 13.6% and polypropylene homopolymer (PPH) at 4.5%. In conclusion, we provide evidence for MPs in the gizzards and crops of farmed chickens which may originate from contaminated poultry feed. Only a few studies have been reported globally to assess MPs ingestion in chickens. The current study is the first report from Pakistan. It could be a valuable addition to support MPs literature to establish a relationship between MPs contamination and intake through the food chain.

More from our Archive

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070580 2023

  Toxicity of Heavy Metals and Recent Advances in Their Removal: A Review

  Manar K. Abd Elnabi, Nehal E. Elkaliny, Maha M. Elyazied, Shimaa H. Azab, Shawky A. Elkhalifa, Sohaila Elmasry, Moustafa S. Mouhamed, Ebrahim M. Shalamesh, Naira A. Alhorieny, Abeer E. Abd Elaty, Ibrahim M. Elgendy, Alaa E. Etman, Kholod E. Saad, Konstantina Tsigkou, Sameh S. Ali, Michael Kornaros, Yehia A.-G. Mahmoud

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070561 2023

  Biogenic Fabrication of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Leptolyngbya sp. L-2 and Multiple In Vitro Pharmacogenetic Properties

  Lubna Anjum Minhas, Muhammad Kaleem, Malik Abrar Hassan Minhas, Rooma Waqar, Dunia A. Al Farraj, Mona Abdullah Alsaigh, Hussain Badshah, Muhammad Haris, Abdul Samad Mumtaz

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070613 2023

  Uncertainties in Pollution and Risk Assessments of Heavy Metals in Lake Sediments Using Regional Background Soils in China

  Dejun Wan, Jiapeng Gao, Ruiting Song, Lei Song, Dongliang Ning

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070612 2023

  First Report on Microplastics Quantification in Poultry Chicken and Potential Human Health Risks in Pakistan

  Muhammad Bilal, Madiha Taj, Habib Ul Hassan, Atif Yaqub, Muhammad Shah, Muhammad Sohail, Naseem Rafiq, Usman Atique, Mohammad Abbas, Saira Sultana, Umaiya Abdali, Takaomi Arai

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070594 2023

  Toxic Effects of Methylene Blue on the Growth, Reproduction and Physiology of Daphnia magna

  Shuhui Li, Yixin Cui, Min Wen, Gaohua Ji

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070599 2023

  More Effective Mobilization of Hg2+ from Human Serum Albumin Compared to Cd2+ by L-Cysteine at Near-Physiological Conditions

  Astha Gautam, Jürgen Gailer

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070598 2023

  Screening of Toxic Effects of Neonicotinoid Insecticides with a Focus on Acetamiprid: A Review

  Lucia Zuščíková, Denis Bažány, Hana Greifová, Nikola Knížatová, Anton Kováčik, Norbert Lukáč, Tomáš Jambor

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070614 2023

  Metal Levels in Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Eggs from the Surface Reflect Metals in Egg Clutches Laid beneath the Sand

  Joanna Burger

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070597 2023

  Multiple Assays on Non-Target Organisms to Determine the Risk of Acute Environmental Toxicity in Tebuconazole-Based Fungicides Widely Used in the Black Sea Coastal Area

  Lucica Tofan, Victor Niță, Magda Nenciu, Valentina Coatu, Luminița Lazăr, Nicoleta Damir, Daniela Vasile, Dan Răzvan Popoviciu, Alina-Giorgiana Brotea, Angela Maria Curtean-Bănăduc, Sorin Avramescu, Florin Aonofriesei

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070596 2023

  Bioaccumulation Pattern and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Cirrhinus mrigala at Panjnad Headworks, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

  Saima Naz, Ahmad Manan Mustafa Chatha, Durali Danabas, Muhammad Farhan Khan, Youhou Xu, Peng Zhu, Laiba Shafique