Researchers Discover Microplastics in Blood, Meat, and Milk of Farm Animals

Microplastics were discovered in human blood by researchers from Amsterdam's Vrije Universiteit in March. They examined blood samples from 22 anonymous, healthy, and adult volunteers and discovered that 17 of them had plastic particles.

The same group of scientists has now discovered microplastics in farm animal meat, milk, and blood, which might explain how the material wound up in our bodies. Worryingly, the particles may move throughout the body and become lodged in organs.

The Plastic Soup Foundation commissioned the study, which revealed on Friday that roughly 80% of meat and dairy products evaluated by experts contain microplastics.

The researchers examined 12 samples of cow blood and 12 samples of pig blood and discovered microplastics in all of them, including polyethylene and polystyrene. They also tested 25 milk samples from shop cartons, farm milk tanks, and hand-milking and discovered that 18 of them contained microplastics.

The researchers hypothesized that one probable source of the harmful particles may be cow and pig feed, given all twelve samples of feed pellets and shredded feed included plastic. The fresh food, on the other hand, was free of microplastics.

This study raises severe concerns regarding microplastic contamination of our food chain. It is also obvious that farmers are not to blame.

Over the years, there has been rising worry about the quantity of plastic in the animals people consume and how it can be passed to humans. Scientists are now advising people to think about what sort of food cattle are fed.

Animals can absorb at least some of the plastic particles in their environment. These findings should inspire future research into the entire degree of exposure and any related dangers. "Creating plastic-free feed for animals might be one strategy to reduce livestock exposure to plastic particles," stated research co-author and eco-toxicologist Dr. Heather Leslie.

The Plastic Soup Foundation has launched a petition to compel the required procedures to maintain farm animals’ plastic-free and safe for eating. The petition primarily wants to guarantee that all animal feed is free of microplastics.

This is a vital step in keeping humans healthy since microplastics pose the risk of viruses attaching themselves to them, allowing them to survive, grow, and contaminate everyone who comes into touch with them.