Study Finds Microplastics Disrupt Rumen’s Microbial Ecosystem

A joint study from the University of Helsinki, University of Zurich, University of Hohenheim, and Technical University of Munich explored the the biological consequences of microplastic exposure in farm animals, from microplastic-contaminated feed. The study examined how five different common types of microplastics in different particle sizes impacted rumen fermentation and microbial activity, as well as what happened to the plastics themselves. None of the plastics remained inert; they all interacted with the microbial ecosystem, altering fermentation and microbial functions. This raises concerns because a stressed, less efficient microbiome could negatively impact animal health and productivity. Additionally, the plastic particles further degraded into smaller particles in the rumen, increasing concerns that they could be absorbed by tissues and enter the food chain.