Anyone else worried about microplastics in their chickens?

[NewcoopNewpoop]

Its everywhere now.

I am highly skeptical of this entire micro plastic business. How will plastic fragments pass the molecular boundary in digestive systems? Bodies absorb molecules, atoms bound together, not large chunks(compared to molecules) of plastic during digestion.

Ditto once in the blood system, how would the plastic get out of the blood without being molecule size?

Positive charges and macrophages? Not sure.

 

[Possum-Pie]

I am highly skeptical of this entire micro plastic business. How will plastic fragments pass the molecular boundary in digestive systems? Bodies absorb molecules, atoms bound together, not large chunks(compared to molecules) of plastic during digestion.

Ditto once in the blood system, how would the plastic get out of the blood without being molecule size?

Animals/humans ingestion of macroplastic or microplastic can and will happen just like we ingest insect parts, animal feces, sand, etc. The human digestive system absorbs water and nutrients (and yes-toxins) through the entire system. Some microplastic will be absorbed. Yet we worry about that and ignore the fact that Heavy Metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium are ingested at a MUCH higher rate-even in so-called "organic" food. These are heavy metals which are in the soil, uptaken by plants, eaten by chickens/people, and deposited in their GI tracts. These are NEVER excreted and build up over a lifetime. It cannot be helped so why lose sleep over it?

I DO recommend to my patients to not use "protein powders" b/c they are manufactured from dairy products often imported from Southeast Asia or South America, where the pollution laws are not as strict and the grass the cattle are eating is much higher in heavy metals. Google independent tests on heavy metals in protein powders if you are curious...
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-hidden-dangers-of-protein-powders

 

[ManOverBoard]

Mine eats full-blown peices of plastic. Im not even sure how she finds them. After the neon purple mushroom she ate and all the glass shards (again, where is she finding these?????) I stopped worrying. They will be fine.

Chickens would make great archeologists , the things they find even when you have lined the bottom of the run with hardware cloth

 

[saysfaa]

I am highly skeptical of this entire micro plastic business. How will plastic fragments pass the molecular boundary in digestive systems? Bodies absorb molecules, atoms bound together, not large chunks(compared to molecules) of plastic during digestion.

Ditto once in the blood system, how would the plastic get out of the blood without being molecule size?

No one knows yet; finding the particles is pretty recent.

But perhaps part of the answer to your questions...

From Linkhttps://journals.lww.com/neurotoday...stics_accumulate_at_high_levels_in_the.1.aspx

"...Stress and inflammation can significantly damage the blood-brain barrier; we have several different animal models of this stress-induced impairment. And then, as these MNPs [micro- and nano-plastics] accumulate in the brain, it is likely that they are promoting inflammation and further damaging the blood-brain barrier.

He also suggested that there may be a further neurotoxic cascade involving the relationship between these MNPs, the gut microbiome and the brain through what has been referred to as the “gut-brain-periphery axis".

We recently published a study finding that particulate matter exposure disrupts this axis, increasing intestinal permeability..."

Another part of the answer to your questions is that at least some of the particles are molecule size.

"...Additionally, they observed that much of the plastic appears to be much smaller than previously appreciated – in the nanoplastic range ... they found [some were] 200 nanometers or less – not much larger than viruses. These are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier," from This link The University of New Mexico Health Sciences News.

 

[ManOverBoard]

My goodness so much to ponder, and so much great input!

We know that there are so many toxic substances everywhere, and it can seem pointless to do anything about it, but we try to minimize exposure where we can without driving ourselves mad.

 

[Birnenhof]

I agree with the people saying worrying about it won´t help.
Meanwhile, I don't like the look of plastic feeders and waterers.
I like to keep my yard looking cute so I have glass water dishes from thrift stores.

The only eye sore I have is the bathing pool for my runner ducks. I`m now thinking I should get of the big aquariums I have in my shit shed.
I would love to film them wash from the side like at the zoo.

 

[saysfaa]

Animals/humans ingestion of macroplastic or microplastic can and will happen

True.

just like we ingest insect parts, animal feces, sand, etc.

Probably not true.
Because our bodies have ways to neutralize these, or use them. Our bodies don't have ways to deal with the forms and chemicals of the plastics.

...heavy metals which are in the soil, uptaken by plants, eaten by chickens/people, and deposited in their GI tracts. These are NEVER excreted and build up over a lifetime....

Most of us do excrete heavy metals. My best friend has a genetic anomaly and cannot so does a chelation protocol periodically.

But I agree heavy metals are also a problem. I don't think it is an either/or situation.

 

[Possum-Pie]

True.

Probably not true.
Because our bodies have ways to neutralize these, or use them. Our bodies don't have ways to deal with the forms and chemicals of the plastics.


Most of us do excrete heavy metals. My best friend has a genetic anomaly and cannot so does a chelation protocol periodically.

But I agree heavy metals are also a problem. I don't think it is an either/or situation.

Technically, you are correct, humans (and birds) DO excrete small amounts of heavy metals, but only extremely slowly over decades. Chelation therapy helps with acute ingestion or as a long-term therapy for folks (like your friend) with a defective MTHFR gene. I would worry much more about heavy metal ingestion from seafood harvested in SE Asia than from microplastics from a chicken waterer...