Transfer quantification and surface changes of microplastics along the earthworm-chicken food chain

Microplastics (MPs) have entered the terrestrial food chain, posing potential health risks to humans through trophic transfer.Currently, our understanding of MP transfer and surface weathering characteristics in terrestrial food chains remains incomplete.This study employed luminescent polystyrene MPs to quantify MP transfer along a terrestrial "earthworm-chicken" food chain, identifying poultry gastrointestinal tracts as active sites for MP fragmentation and surface changes.Our results demonstrate the gizzard's important role in mechanical MP degradation and confirm chickens as biovectors that generate secondary MPs while enhancing environmental MP mobility.