The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers.

Microplastics (MPs) and artificial fibers (AFs) have been detected suspended tens of meters above ground level in the atmosphere, yet empirical data on them remain scarce. This study aimed to investigate the presence of MPs and AFs in the digestive and respiratory systems of two abundant bird species, the Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum) and the Common Swift (Apus apus), within the Community of Madrid, Spain. Given that these birds spend the majority of their lives airborne, engaging in activities such as mating and sleeping during flight, the research sought to assess the potential of using these bird species as bioindicators for suspended atmospheric MPs and AFs.

Precision formulation, a new concept to improve dietary amino acid absorption based on the study of cationic amino acid transporters.

Amino acid (AA) transporters (AAT) control AA cellular fluxes across membranes, contributing to maintain cellular homeostasis. In this study, we took advantage of rainbow trout metabolic feature, which highly relies on dietary AA, to explore the cellular and physiological consequences of unbalanced diets on AAT dysregulations with a particular focus on cationic AAs (CAA), frequently underrepresented in plant-based diets. Results evidenced that 24 different CAAT are expressed in various trout tissues, part of which being subjected to AA- and CAA-dependent regulations, with exchanger being prone to the strongest dysregulations.

Accumulation of microplastics in predatory birds near a densely populated urban area.

The pollution due to plastic and other anthropogenic particles has steadily increased over the last few decades, presenting a significant threat to the environment and organisms, including avian species. This research aimed to investigate the occurrence of anthropogenic pollutants in the digestive and respiratory systems of four birds of prey: Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), and Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). The results revealed widespread contamination in all species with microplastics (MPs) and cellulosic anthropogenic fibers (AFs), with an average of 7.

The fate of plastic in the ocean environment - a minireview.

The presence of plastics in the marine environment poses a threat to ocean life and has received much scientific and public attention in recent years. Plastics were introduced to the market in the 1950s and since then, global production figures and ocean plastic littering have increased exponentially. Of the 359 million tonnes (Mt) produced in 2018, an estimated 14.