Environmental Science & Technology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown
Опубликована: Март 25, 2025
Microplastics are ubiquitous environmental pollutants in terrestrial, marine, and atmospheric ecosystems. Plastic inputs into the atmosphere occur through weathering or abrasion, dispersing microplastics globally, which can enter animals' respiratory systems inhalation. We analyzed lung tissues for first time intestinal contents of 11 dead finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) to assess intake from prey sources. The contained average concentrations 0.14 ± 0.11 MPs/g 0.35 0.36 MPs/g, respectively. found were similar physical characteristics (e.g., fragment shape, transparent white color, size <100 μm). On other hand, they differed polymer types, with a higher proportion epoxy-type lungs. Epoxy is highly hazardous according hazard index, present study, had plastic index than contents. Hence, system more vulnerable microplastic pollution sources digestive water food intake. These findings underscore growing threat airborne lung-breathing animals including marine mammals.
Язык: Английский