Neue Studie zeigt erstmals, dass Mikroplastik nicht einfach durch den Verdauungstrakt von Nutztieren gelangt. Sie interagieren mit dem Darmmikrobiom, verändern die Fermentation und werden teilweise abgebaut. Das Verdauungssystem von Nutztieren kann als Bioreaktor fungieren, der Mikroplastik umwandelt und weiterverteilt.

I’ve linked to the press release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389425034016

From the linked article:

Microplastics disrupt gut microbiome and fermentation in farm animals: study reveals new risks to animal health and food safety

Microplastics, tiny plastic particles pervasive in agricultural environments, interact with and disrupt the microbial ecosystem in the rumen – the first stomach chamber of cattle, reveals an international study.

These results indicate that microplastics disturb normal microbial metabolism and are likely to be at least partially degraded into smaller fragments by rumen microbes.

Implications for agriculture and food safety

The study closes an important knowledge gap about how microplastics behave in the digestive systems of farm animals. While previous research has established that livestock are exposed to microplastics through contaminated soils and feed, it was unclear whether these particles remained unchanged or interacted with the microbiome.

“Our **study shows for the first time that microplastics do not simply pass through the digestive tract of farm animals. Instead, they interact with the gut microbiome, alter fermentation processes, and are partially broken down**,” says Jana Seifert, Professor of Functional Microbiology of Livestock at the University of Hohenheim, Germany. “**This means farm animals are not passive recipients of plastic pollution; their digestive systems may act as bioreactors that transform microplastics and redistribute them within agricultural systems**.”

However, the findings also raise significant concerns. A stressed, less efficient microbiome could negatively impact animal health and productivity. Additionally, smaller plastic fragments formed during digestion may be more easily absorbed into tissues, potentially entering the human food chain. This risk could be particularly pronounced in young or stressed animals with more permeable intestinal barriers.

Each time I read something on microplastics , my reaction is yep, we’re fcked, they’re everywhere litterally EVERYwhere