Anyone else worried about microplastics in their chickens?

[Toad9000]

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?

Asbestos comes in the form of macro-particles that you could eat a pint full of and probably not metabolize any. Doesn't make it good for you. Neither is lead or mercury (even if they aren't the same "large chunks" we're talking about). But all 3 were once considered mundane and safe. Just like the tar in cigarettes which contains long chain hydrocarbons remarkably similar to many of the synthetic polymers in wide spread use today.

I'm by no means an alarmist, but I strongly suspect that in 50-100 years our kids and grandkids will be laughing at how much plastic we consumed just like we laugh at asbestos filtered cigarettes now.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

That sounds like something not worth stressing over. I see where you are coming from, I avoid plastic myself! But they are built to handle all sorts of stuff. I would worry more about giving them good food, fresh water, and a safe home.

 

[Possum-Pie]

Ok, I challenge all those who are worried about microplastics. Don't purchase anything packaged in plastic. Don't purchase anything manufactured using plastic in the process. Don't store food/drink in any plastic container. Don't ride in vehicles with plastic components, don't enter any dwelling with plastic inside. Don't hold cellphones made with plastics up to your mouth, don't use laptops/pc made with plastic components. You may breathe in the microplastics or ingest them. In that case, you will be (partially) avoiding microplastics (they are in our air so don't breathe?). There is a possibility that an asteroid may impact the Earth, wiping out all of civilization, but if I can't prevent it, I don't stress it.