Skip to main content
Download PDF

Birds and plastic pollution: recent advances

Avian Research volume 12, Article number: 59 (2021) Cite this article

Abstract

Plastic waste and debris have caused substantial environmental pollution globally in the past decades, and they have been accumulated in hundreds of terrestrial and aquatic avian species. Birds are susceptible and vulnerable to external environments; therefore, they could be used to estimate the negative effects of environmental pollution. In this review, we summarize the effects of macroplastics, microplastics, and plastic-derived additives and plastic-absorbed chemicals on birds. First, macroplastics and microplastics accumulate in different tissues of various aquatic and terrestrial birds, suggesting that birds could suffer from the macroplastics and microplastics-associated contaminants in the aquatic and terrestrial environments. Second, the detrimental effects of macroplastics and microplastics, and their derived additives and absorbed chemicals on the individual survival, growth and development, reproductive output, and physiology, are summarized in different birds, as well as the known toxicological mechanisms of plastics in laboratory model mammals. Finally, we identify that human commensal birds, long-life-span birds, and model bird species could be utilized to different research objectives to evaluate plastic pollution burden and toxicological effects of chronic plastic exposure.

Background

Along with global industrialization and modernization, the production and consumption of plastic items have increased substantially since the early 1950s (Geyer et al. 2017; MacLeod et al. 2021). Approximately, 8.3 billion metric tons of virgin plastic were produced up to 2017, and 12 billion tons of plastic wastes are expected to be found in the natural environment by 2050 (Geyer et al. 2017). Most plastic products (macroplastics, diameter > 5 mm) are not biodegradable and break down into small plastic particles that can be easily spread to various environments by the action of wind and waves owing to their small size, lightweight, high durability, and extended stability (Susanti et al. 2020). In recent years, plastic particles with diameter ≤ 5 mm (microplastics, MPs) and ≤ 1 μm (nanoplastics, NPs) have been increasingly observed in various compositions, shapes, morphologies, and textures in atmospheric, terrestrial, and marine environments, and they can enter the food chain either by inhalation or by ingestion (Susanti et al. 2020; Fig. 1). MPs have also been discovered in remote areas such as polar regions (Bessa et al. 2019), Mount Everest (Napper et al. 2020), and the Mariana Trench (Jamieson et al. 2019). MPs can act as vectors for pathogens and chemical pollutants because of their environmental persistence and potential ecotoxicity, which pose significant health and ecological concerns (Amelineau et al. 2016; Nabi et al. 2019). Furthermore, they are bioavailable for ingestion by a variety of wild organisms (Cole et al. 2013; Bessa et al. 2018; Nelms et al. 2019) and can enter food chains through trophic transfer, causing severe threats to biodiversity and ecosystems (Karami et al. 2016; Dawson et al. 2018; Zhu et al. 2018). Therefore, the accumulation of plastic waste and debris in the environment has continuously increased, resulting in substantial environmental pollution (Rochman et al. 2013; Wilcox et al. 2015; Zhu et al. 2019).

Fig. 1
figure1

The cycling process of macroplastics and microplastics in different ecosystems (red arrow) and potential uptake ways by birds from different ecological groups (orange arrow)

Full size image

Birds have the largest number of species (more than 10,000 living species) among the tetrapod classes (Ducatez and Lefebvre 2014). They are endotherms organisms that are widely distributed in various habitats worldwide, from the equator to polar areas, and from oceans and freshwater to high plateaus, and they exhibit flight-related morphological and physiological traits that enable them to occupy different habitats and become important members of many ecosystems (Orme et al. 2006) (Fig. 1). Compared with non-flying animals, birds have a higher metabolic rate (McNab 2009), better antioxidant capacity (Costantini 2008), prolonged lifespan (Munshi-South and Wilkinson 2010) and short but efficient digestive tract (Caviedes-Vidal et al. 2007). They are believed to be highly sensitive and vulnerable to external conditions, and therefore, could be used to monitor environmental changes and assess the negative effects of environmental pollution (Carral-Murrieta et al. 2020; Li et al. 2021; Nabi et al. 2021). Given that birds in particular mistake plastic for prey, macroplastics or MPs have been found in the gastrointestinal tracts, feces, and even in feathers and other tissues or organs of several hundred avian species from freshwater, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems (Carey 2011; Gall and Thompson 2015; Wilcox et al. 2015; Zhao et al. 2016). Here, we review the occurrence of plastics and MPs in aquatic and terrestrial birds (Fig. 1); summarize the effects of plastics, MPs, plastics-derived additives, and plastic-absorbed chemicals; and suggest directions for further research in the field of plastic pollution in birds.

Macroplastics and microplastics in aquatic and terrestrial birds

Plastic debris is ubiquitous in oceans, and its potential impacts on a wide range of marine organisms have raised serious concerns (Andrady 2011; Jambeck et al. 2015; Yin et al. 2018, 2019). Globally, the proportion of MPs to the total weight of plastic accumulated in the environment by 2060 is estimated at 13.2% (Andrady 2011). Macroplastics and MPs in the oceans are similar in size and appearance to tiny marine organisms (e.g., zooplankton), and they can be wrongly regarded as prey by marine animals such as fish and shellfish (Waring et al. 2018). These marine animals are the primary food resource of many seabirds, so that the seabirds are particularly susceptible to plastic exposure because of their high rates of ingestion of contaminated prey (Barbieri et al. 2010). It is estimated that up to 78% of identified species of seabirds have deposited MPs in their digestive tracts since the 1960s (Wilcox et al. 2015; Basto et al. 2019), and more than 99% of over 300 seabird species are expected to have ingested plastic debris by 2050 (Wilcox et al. 2015). The positive correlation between MPs in feathers and fecal samples in geese and ducks (Reynolds and Ryan 2018) suggests that MPs can accumulate in different tissues of their bodies. Seabirds spread particulate plastics at colonies through regurgitation (Lindborg et al. 2012; Hammer et al. 2016) and guano deposition, thereby increasing the concentration of chemical contaminants near their colonies (Blais et al. 2005). Therefore, seabirds function as vectors for marine-derived MPs and plastic-associated contaminants in the aquatic and terrestrial environments.

Terrestrial birds are an essential component of land ecosystems, with various ecological functions in the food web (Carlin et al. 2020). Zhao et al. (2016) reported that MPs were discovered in the gastrointestinal tracts of 16 out of 17 terrestrial bird species. Unlike many studies on aquatic birds, there are few studies on terrestrial birds, except for plastic ingestion by several top bird predators (Carlin et al. 2020; Ballejo et al. 2021). The occurrence of macroplastics and MPs has been reported in some raptors, because raptors are top predators, and has relatively large foraging areas, and a longer lifespan (Houston et al. 2007; Carlin et al. 2020; Ballejo et al. 2021). For instance, the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus), a critically endangered species, has been reported to ingest plastic from rubbish dumps (Houston et al. 2007), which is considered one of the most important causes of death in nestlings (Rideout et al. 2012). In addition, another study showed that MPs were significantly more abundant in the digestive tract tissue of Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), that consumes small mammals, snakes, and amphibians, than in fish feeding Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) (Carlin et al. 2020). Vultures are obligate scavengers, and many of them use rubbish dumps as food resources worldwide, including the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus), Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus), and Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) (Houston et al. 2007; Plaza et al. 2018; Carlin et al. 2020; Ballejo et al. 2021). This feeding habit increases their exposure risks to MPs consumption through organic waste and synthetic materials, which can cause intestinal obstructions, nutritional problems, infections, and metabolic alterations (Plaza et al. 2018; Tauler-Ametlller et al. 2019). Although small-sized terrestrial birds (e.g., passerines) are highly diversified and widely distributed relative to raptors (Yu et al. 2014), little is known about the relationship between the occurrence of macroplastics and MPs in small-sized terrestrial birds.

Effects of macroplastics and microplastics on birds

Various negative consequences are resulting from interactions between wildlife and plastic debris. The most obvious and immediate consequences include entanglement (Derraik 2002; Ryan 2018; Lavers et al. 2020), nutritional deprivation (Lavers et al. 2014), and damage or obstruction of the gut (Pierce et al. 2004). Particularly, more and more birds are severely affected by entanglement owing to the increasing presence of plastic litter (Gregory 2009; Roman et al. 2019), e.g., the large number of face masks carelessly discarded during the COVID-19 pandemic (Patrício Silva et al. 2021). Entanglement can lead to injuries, drowning, and even suffocation, which can reduce predation efficiency and increase the probability of being preyed upon (Derraik 2002; Gall and Thompson 2015). Furthermore, large plastic fragments and tiny plastic particles are also frequently ingested by birds (Derraik 2002; Ryan 2018; Lavers et al. 2020). For example, microplastic fibers, beads, and macroplastics have been found embedded in the intestinal wall of Red-shouldered Hawk and Osprey, which suggests that these materials can remain in the intestines longer than other indigestible items that pass through (Carlin et al. 2020). Several pioneering studies have reported that the deposited and aggregated MPs or larger plastic debris can cause bleeding, blockage of the digestive tract, ulcers, or perforations of the gut, which can produce a deceptive feeling of satiation (Derraik 2002; Pierce et al. 2004), lead to starvation (Derraik 2002; Pierce et al. 2004), or cause direct mortality (Derraik 2002; Roman et al. 2019). For example, the volume of plastic ingested (plastic burden) by the Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) and the Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) can be associated with damage or obstruction of the gut, reduced body weight, slower growth rate, and increased mortality (Pierce et al. 2004). Similarly, a decreased growth rate induced by plastic ingestion was observed in the chicks of Flesh-footed Shearwater (Puffinus carneipes) (Lavers et al. 2014) and Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) (Roman et al. 2019), which likely resulted from reduced stomach capacity rather than toxicological effects (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
figure2

The physical impairment and toxicological effects of environmental plastic pollution on birds

Full size image

Some studies have found that ingestion of MPs has reproductive toxicity to birds (Fossi et al. 2018; Roman et al. 2019). For example, chicks of Japanese Quail with observed plastic ingestion exhibited a minor delay in sexual maturity, and a higher incidence of epididymal intra-epithelial cysts in males, although there were no effects on reproductive success (Roman et al. 2019). Similarly, the ingestion of MPs can also reduce the reproductive output of Flesh-footed Shearwater (Fossi et al. 2018). Carey (2011) observed that the plastics or microplastics ingested by adult Short-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris) could be passed to their chicks. Furthermore, ingestion of MPs by birds can activate inflammatory responses, and lead to reducing food intake, delayed ovulation, and increased mortality (Wright et al. 2013; Carbery et al. 2018; Fossi et al. 2018) (Fig. 2). In this context, it is important to determine the potential MPs concentration that is detrimental or sublethal to body condition, development, growth, reproduction, and other physiological functions in birds (Puskic et al. 2019).

Effects of plastics-derived additives and plastics-adsorbed chemicals on birds

Plastic debris contains a wide range of additives and toxic chemicals sorbed from the environment (Hirai et al. 2011), which can have various adverse effects on wildlife organisms (Chen et al. 2019; Tanaka et al. 2020). The European Chemicals Agency has listed approximately 400 plastic additives, including organotins, triclosan, phthalates, brominated flame retardants, bisphenols, and diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) (Du et al. 2017; Hermabessiere et al. 2017; Zhang et al. 2018). The accumulation of plastic additives has been reported in several seabirds, including the Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas) (Teuten et al. 2009), Short-tailed Shearwaters (Yamashita et al. 2011), and Flesh-footed Shearwaters (Lavers et al. 2014), suggesting that plastics are a direct carrier of chemicals to seabirds. Among these chemicals, many studies confirm that DEHP can cause weight gain in European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) (O’Shea and Stafford, 1980) and is potentially toxic to the kidneys (Li et al. 2018), liver (Zhang et al. 2018), and cerebellum (Du et al. 2017) in Japanese Quail.

In addition, owing to their hydrophobic nature and relatively large surface area, MPs can adsorb numerous environmental contaminants, such as POPs, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), antibiotics, and endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) (Rathi et al. 2019; Reddy et al. 2019). Previous studies have shown that ingestion of toxic substances adsorbed on MPs can induce malnutrition, endocrine disruption, and issues in the reproductive biology of Japanese Quail (Roman et al. 2019) and several species of seabirds, including Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) (Barbieri 2010), Short-tailed Shearwater (Tanaka et al. 2013), White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis), Slender-billed Prion (Pachyptila belcheri), Great Shearwater, Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys), and Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) (Susanti et al. 2020). Chronic exposure to EDCs can have several negative effects on the developmental and reproductive biology of Japanese Quail (Ottinger et al. 2008), Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) (McCarty and Second 2000), American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) (Fisher et al. 2001), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) (Sanderson et al. 1994) and White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) (Jayasena et al. 2011), and it also can impair immune and thyroid functions in Japanese Quails (Ottinger et al. 2008). Furthermore, EDCs cause poor reproductive output because of embryonic death, chick deformities, eggshell thinning, and even death in Japanese Quails (Ottinger et al. 2005). Previous studies have shown that traditional pollutants, such as heavy metals and organic pollutants (POPs) are detrimental to the health of birds. For example, heavy metals have adverse effects on the testicular function and sperm quality of Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) (Yang et al. 2020) and White Ibises (Frederick and Jayasena 2011), and POPs exert numerous negative effects on endocrine, immune and neural system in White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) (Sletten et al. 2016) and reproduction, and development, and growth in other bird species (Hao et al. 2021). However, it is quite challenging to find pertinent data for each toxicant because of the large number of plastic-associated toxicants identified in wild avian species.

Known toxicological and physiological effects of macroplastics and microplastics in other animals

Plastic debris and MPs have also been found in the digestive tracts of a variety of animal groups from various environments. First, plastics can cause entanglement or lead to starvation or intestinal blockages upon ingestion (Gregory 2009; Provencher et al. 2017). Second, MPs can be deposited in the mucus layer secreted by the cells of the gut wall, and then transported to other organs or tissues via circulation (Lu et al. 2018; Jin et al. 2019). In addition to the physical impairment and histological variations in the intestines, the perils of MP ingestion include growth impediment and disorders of metabolism and behavior (Lu et al. 2018; Jin et al. 2019). MPs also impair filter feeders (mussels and clams) and induce DNA damage, oxidative injury, and antioxidative responses (clams) (Cedervall et al. 2012; Ribeira et al. 2017). Furthermore, endocrine disruption and neurotransmission dysfunction of marine species caused by MPs have been reported, in addition to genotoxicity (Rochman et al. 2014; Avio et al. 2015). Polystyrene MPs can adversely affect granulocytes and ovarian function in female rats through distinct signaling pathways (Hou et al. 2021).

Compared with plastic debris and MPs, NPs have a higher potential to negatively affect organisms because they can penetrate and accumulate in organs or tissues through systemic circulation (Kashiwada 2006; von Moos et al. 2012) and even pass biological barriers (Mattsson et al. 2016; Borisova 2018). NPs can interact with proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, which affect transmembrane transport (Revel et al. 2018) and metabolism (Cedervall et al. 2012; Mattsson et al. 2015), and can lead to reproductive dysfunction and behavioral abnormalities in aquatic (Chae and An 2017; Mattsson et al. 2017; Prüst et al. 2020) and terrestrial (Amereh et al. 2020; Prüst et al. 2020) animals. Furthermore, NPs have induced adverse effects on the reproductive functions of laboratory mammals (Amereh et al. 2020; An et al. 2021; Jin et al. 2021), such as alterations in sperm morphology and viability, and lower serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in mice and rats (Amereh et al. 2020). Polystyrene NPs can cause depression and behavioral and cognitive disorders in mice (da Costa Araújo and Malafaia 2021; Estrela et al. 2021). Despite the limited information on the toxicological effects of NPs on non-laboratory model animals, the above-mentioned effects of widely distributed NPs can be inferred to occur in free-living animals.

Future directions

The increasing demand for plastic products coupled with inadequate waste management and policy contributes to the ongoing and rapidly expanding environmental pollution of plastics (Rochman et al. 2013; Borrelle et al. 2017). MPs are hazardous not only to birds but also to other animals, including humans. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have identified the occurrence of plastics and plastics-associated toxicants in various animals associated with a significant increase in plastic pollution. Although an increasing number of studies have focused on the phenomenon of plastic deposition and toxicological effects in birds, the mechanisms throughout which MPs enter tissues and their potential health risks have not been fully clarified. Although MPs do not exhibit apparent toxicity, they can absorb toxic chemicals, which further challenges our understanding of the overall impacts of MPs. Further investigations are needed to determine whether the endocrine and toxicological effects of MPs-related contamination (e.g., plastics-derived additives and plastics-adsorbed chemicals) occur in wild birds with sufficient severity to be detrimental to fitness, and whether birds suffer ongoing disadvantages upon chronic low-level toxicity.

As birds have a great number of specific groups, different groups can be used to assess the plastic pollution burden, long-term effects of MPs exposure in various environments, and toxicological effects in the laboratory. For instance, human commensal species, such as the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Sun et al. 2016; Li et al. 2019; Yang et al. 2019; Ding et al. 2021), House Sparrow (P. domesticus) (Hanson et al. 2020) and House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) (Juárez et al. 2020) utilize human resources in rural and urban areas and have a remarkably broad distribution range. These species could be used as bioindicators to evaluate the plastic pollution burden in different environments because they have been well studied in the past two decades. In addition, as long-lifespan species (e.g., albatrosses, shearwaters, and vultures) can breed over many decades (Moore 2008), they could be used to evaluate the potential toxicological effects of chronic plastic exposure on both individual survival and reproductive output (Kramar et al. 2019; Marín-Gómez et al. 2020; Sánchez et al. 2020). Furthermore, these species could be used to evaluate the effects of food contaminated with plastic debris and the intergenerational transfer of MPs through allofeeding of offsprings (Sánchez et al. 2020), as observed in the Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) fledglings (Rodríguez et al. 2012), Providence Petrel (Pterodroma solandri) (Bester et al. 2010), Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) (Rapp et al. 2017), Laysan Albatross (P. immutabilis) (Young et al. 2009), Short-tailed Shearwater (Carey 2011), Wedge-tailed Shearwater (A. pacifica) (Verlis et al. 2013), Flesh-footed Shearwater (Lavers et al. 2014), and other petrels (Rapp et al. 2017). Finally, model bird species (chicken and Japanese Quail) could be used to clarify the potential regulatory mechanisms associated with physiology, behavior, and neuroendocrinology upon exposure to different sizes of MPs.

NPs can cause more potent threats than MPs to mammals because they are small enough to accumulate in different tissues through systemic circulation (Estrela et al. 2021). In birds, one can predict that NPs might cause behavioral, physiological, and neuroendocrinological changes, although there has been no identified evidence, and further investigations are necessary. Furthermore, as birds build nests with many natural and human-related materials, the potential threat of plastic debris, MPs, or NPs as nest materials to embryonic and chick development needs to be further examined. Birds are unique and differ from other animal groups because of their behavior, physiology, and lifestyle. Further research should focus on the underlying toxicological mechanisms of MPs and NPs in the laboratory or free-living birds and the identification of consistent and inconsistent response mechanisms to plastics-related pollution (i.e., macroplastics, MPs, NPs, plastics-derived additives, and plastics-adsorbed chemicals) in birds and other animal groups.

References

  1. Amelineau F, Bonnet D, Heitz O, Mortreux V, Harding AMA, Karnovsky N, et al. Microplastic pollution in the Greenland Sea: background levels and selective contamination of planktivorous diving seabirds. Environ Pollut. 2016;219:1131–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Amereh F, Babaei M, Eslami A, Fazelipour S, Rafiee M. The emerging risk of exposure to nano (micro) plastics on endocrine disturbance and reproductive toxicity: from a hypothetical scenario to a global public health challenge. Environ Pollut. 2020;261:114158.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. An R, Wang XF, Yang L, Zhang JJ, Wang NN, Xu FB, et al. Polystyrene microplastics cause granulosa cells apoptosis and fibrosis in ovary through oxidative stress in rats. Toxicology. 2021;449:152665.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Andrady AL. Microplastics in the marine environment. Mar Pollut Bull. 2011;62:1596–605.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Avio CG, Gorbi S, Regoli F. Experimental development of a new protocol for extraction and characterization of microplastics in fish tissues: first observations in commercial species from Adriatic Sea. Mar Environ Res. 2015;111:18–26.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ballejo F, Plaza P, Speziale KL, Lambertucci AP, Lambertucci SA. Plastic ingestion and dispersion by vultures may produce plastic islands in natural areas. Sci Total Environ. 2021;755: 142421.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Barbieri E, de Andrade PE, Filippini A, Souza dos Santos I, Borges Garcia CA. Assessment of trace metal concentration in feathers of seabird (Larus dominicanus) sampled in the Florianópolis, SC, Brazilian coast. Environ Monit Assess. 2010;169:631–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Basto MN, Nicastro KR, Tavares AI, McQuaid CD, Casero M, Azevedo F, et al. Plastic ingestion in aquatic birds in Portugal. Mar Pollut Bull. 2019;138:19–24.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bessa F, Barría P, Neto JM, Frias JPGL, Otero V, Sobral P, et al. Occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment. Mar Pollut Bull. 2018;128:575–84.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Bessa F, Ratcliffe N, Otero V, Sobral P, Marques JC, Waluda CM, et al. Microplastics in gentoo penguins from the Antarctic region. Sci Rep. 2019;9:14191.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bester AJ, Priddel D, Klomp NI. Diet and foraging behaviour of the Providence petrel Pterodroma solandri. Mar Ornithol. 2010;39:163–72.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Blais JM, Kimpe LE, McMahon D, Keatley BE, Mallory ML, Douglas MSV, et al. Arctic seabirds transport marine-derived contaminants. Science. 2005;309:445.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Borisova T. Nervous system injury in response to contact with environmental, engineered and planetary micro- and nano-sized particles. Front Physiol. 2018;9:728.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Borrelle SB, Rochman CM, Liboiron M, Bond AL, Lusher A, Bradshaw H, et al. Opinion: why we need an international agreement on marine plastic pollution. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2017;114:9994–7.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Carbery M, O’Connor W, Palanisami T. Trophic transfer of microplastics and mixed contaminants in the marine food web and implications for human health. Environ Int. 2018;115:400–9.

    PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Carey MJ. Intergenerational transfer of plastic debris by short-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna tenuirostris). Emu. 2011;111:229–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Carlin J, Craig C, Little S, Donnelly M, Fox D, Zhai L. Microplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tracts in birds of prey in central Florida, USA. Environ Pollut. 2020;264:114633.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Carral-Murrieta CO, García-Arroyo M, Marín-Gómez OH, Sosa-López JR, MacGregor-Fors I. Noisy environments: untangling the role of anthropogenic noise on bird species richness in a Neotropical city. Avian Res. 2020;11:32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Caviedes-Vidal E, McWhorter TJ, Lavin SR, Chediack JG, Tracy CR, Karasov WH. The digestive adaptation of flying vertebrates: high intestinal paracellular absorption compensates for smaller guts. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2007;104:19132–7.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Cedervall T, Hansson LA, Lard M, Frohm B, Linse S. Food chain transport of nanoparticles affects behaviour and fat metabolism in fish. PLoS ONE. 2012;7:e32254.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Chae Y, An YJ. Effects of micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic ecosystems: current research trends and perspectives. Mar Pollut Bull. 2017;124:624–32.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Chen Q, Allgeier A, Yin D, Hollert H. Leaching of endocrine disrupting chemicals from marine microplastics and mesoplastics under common life stress conditions. Environ Int. 2019;130:104938.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Cole M, Lindeque P, Fileman E, Halsband C, Goodhead R, Moger J, et al. Microplastic ingestion by zooplankton. Environ Sci Technol. 2013;47:6646–55.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Costantini D. Oxidative stress in ecology and evolution: lessons from avian studies. Ecol Lett. 2008;11:1238–51.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  25. da Costa Araújo AP, Malafaia G. Microplastic ingestion induces behavioral disorders in mice: a preliminary study on the trophic transfer effects via tadpoles and fish. J Hazard Mater. 2021;401:123263.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Dawson A, Huston W, Kawaguchi S, King C, Cropp R, Wild S, et al. Bengtson nash, uptake and depuration kinetics influence microplastic bioaccumulation and toxicity in Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba). Environ Sci Technol. 2018;52:3195–201.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Derraik JG. The pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris: a review. Mar Pollut Bull. 2002;44:842–52.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Ding B, Zhao Y, Sun Y, Zhang Q, Li M, Nabi G, et al. Coping with extremes: lowered myocardial phosphofructokinase activities and glucose content but increased fatty acids content in highland Eurasian Tree Sparrows. Avian Res. 2021;12:44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Du ZH, Xia J, Sun XC, Li XN, Zhang C, Zhao HS, et al. A novel nuclear xenobiotic receptors (AhR/ PXR/CAR)-mediated mechanism of DEHP-induced cerebellar toxicity in quails (Coturnix Japonica) via disrupting CYP enzyme system homeostasis. Environ Pollut. 2017;226:435–43.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Ducatez S, Lefebvre L. Patterns of research effort in birds. PLoS ONE. 2014;9:e89955.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Estrela FN, Guimarães ATB, Araújo APDC, Silva FG, Luz TMD, Silva AM, et al. Toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and zinc oxide to mice. Chemosphere. 2021;271:129476.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Fisher SA, Bortolotti GR, Fernie KJ, Smits JE, Marchant TA, Drouillard KG, et al. Courtship behavior of captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius) exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls. Arch Environ Cont Toxicol. 2001;41:215–20.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Fossi MC, Panti C, Baini M, Lavers JL. A review of plastic-associated pressures: cetaceans of the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Australian shearwaters as case studies. Front Mar Sci. 2018;5:1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Frederick P, Jayasena N. Altered pairing behaviour and reproductive success in white ibises exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of methylmercury. Proc R Soc B Biol Sci. 2011;278:1851–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Gall SC, Thompson RC. The impact of debris on marine life. Mar Pollut Bull. 2015;92:170–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Geyer R, Jambeck JR, Law KL. Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Sci Adv. 2017;3:1700782.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Gregory MR. Environmental implications of plastic debris in marine settings—entanglement, ingestion, smothering, hangers-on, hitch-hiking and alien invasions. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B. 2009;364:2013–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Hammer S, Nager RG, Johnson PCD, Furness RW, Provencher JF. Plastic debris in great skua (Stercorarius skua) pellets corresponds to seabird prey species. Mar Pollut Bull. 2016;103:206–10.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Hanson HE, Mathews NS, Hauber ME, Martin LB. The house sparrow in the service of basic and applied biology. eLife. 2020;9:e52803.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Hao Y, Zheng S, Wang P, Sun H, Matsiko J, Li W, et al. Ecotoxicology of persistent organic pollutants in birds. Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2021;23:400–16.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Hermabessiere L, Dehaut A, Paul-Pont I, Lacroix C, Jezequel R, Soudant P, et al. Occurrence and effects of plastic additives in marine environments and organisms: a review. Chemosphere. 2017;182:781–93.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Hirai H, Takada H, Ogata Y, Yamashita R, Mizukawa K, Saha M, et al. Organic micropollutants in marine plastics debris from the open ocean and remote and urban beaches. Mar Pollut Bull. 2011;62:1683–92.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Hou JY, Lei ZM, Cui LL, Hou Y, Yang L, An R, et al. Polystyrene microplastics lead to pyroptosis and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells via NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway in rats. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2021;212:112012.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Houston DC, Mee A, McGrady M, Warkentin IG. Why do condors and vultures eat junk? the implications for conservation. J Raptor Res. 2007;41:235–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Jambeck JR, Geyer R, Wilcox C, Siegler TR, Perryman M, Andrady A, et al. Marine pollution. Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science. 2015;347:768–71.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Jamieson AJ, Brooks LSR, Reid WDK, Piertney SB, Narayanaswamy BE, Linley TD. Microplastics and synthetic particles ingested by deep-sea amphipods in six of the deepest marine ecosystems on Earth. R Soc Open Sci. 2019;6:180667.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Jayasena N, Frederick PC, Larkin IL. Endocrine disruption in white ibises (Eudocimus albus) caused by exposure to environmentally relevant levels of methylmercury. Aquat Toxicol. 2011;105:321–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  48. Jin YX, Lu L, Tu WQ, Luo T, Fu ZW. Impacts of polystyrene microplastic on the gut barrier, microbiota and metabolism of mice. Sci Total Environ. 2019;649:308–17.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Jin HB, Ma T, Sha XX, Liu ZY, Zhou Y, Meng XN, et al. Polystyrene microplastics induced male reproductive toxicity in mice. J Hazard Mater. 2021;401:123430.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Juárez R, Chacón-Madrigal E, Sandoval L. Urbanization has opposite effects on the territory size of two passerine birds. Avian Res. 2020;11:11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Karami A, Romano N, Galloway T, Hamzah H. Virgin microplastics cause toxicity and modulate the impacts of phenanthrene on biomarker responses in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Environ Res. 2016;151:58–70.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. Kashiwada S. Distribution of nanoparticles in the see-through medaka (Oryzias latipes). Environ Health Persp. 2006;114:1697–702.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Kramar DE, Carstensen B, Prisley S, Campbell J. Mercury concentrations in blood and feathers of nestling Bald Eagles in coastal and inland Virginia. Avian Res. 2019;10:3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Lavers JL, Bond AL, Hutton I. Plastic ingestion by flesh-footed shearwaters (Puffinus carneipes): implications for fledgling body condition and the accumulation of plastic-derived chemicals. Environ Pollut. 2014;187:124–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Lavers JL, Sharp PB, Stuckenbrock S, Bond AL. Entrapment in plastic debris endangers hermit crabs. J Hazard Mater. 2020;387:121703.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  56. Li PC, Li XN, Du ZH, Wang H, Yu ZR, Li JL. Di (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP)-induced kidney injury in quail (Coturnix Japonica) via inhibiting HSF1/HSF3-dependent heat shock response. Chemosphere. 2018;209:981–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  57. Li M, Zhu WW, Wang Y, Sun YF, Li JY, Liu XL, et al. Effects of capture and captivity on plasma corticosterone and metabolite levels in breeding Eurasian Tree Sparrows. Avian Res. 2019;10:16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Li L, Ge JR, Zheng SY, Hong LH, Zhang XN, Li M, et al. Thermogenic responses in Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) to seasonal acclimatization and temperature-photoperiod acclimation. Avian Res. 2020;11:35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Li M, Nabi G, Sun YF, Wang Y, Wang LM, Jiang C, et al. The effect of air pollution on immunological, antioxidative and hematological parameters, and body condition of Eurasian tree sparrows. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2021;208:111755.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Lindborg VA, Ledbetter JF, Walat JM, Moffett C. Plastic consumption and diet of glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens). Mar Pollut Bull. 2012;64:2351–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  61. Lu L, Wan ZQ, Luo T, Fu ZW, Jin YX. Polystyrene microplastics induce gut microbiota dysbiosis and hepatic lipid metabolism disorder in mice. Sci Total Environ. 2018;631–632:449–58.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  62. MacLeod M, Arp HPH, Tekman MB, Jahnke A. The global threat from plastic pollution. Science. 2021;373:61–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  63. Marín-Gómez OH, García-Arroyo M, Sánchez-Sarria CE, Sosa-López JR, Santiago-Alarcon D, MacGregor-Fors I. Nightlife in the city: drivers of the occurrence and vocal activity of a tropical owl. Avian Res. 2020;11:9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Mattsson K, Ekvall MT, Hansson LA, Linse S, Malmendal A, Cedervall T. Altered behavior, physiology, and metabolism in fish exposed to polystyrene nanoparticles. Environ Sci Technol. 2015;49:553–61.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  65. Mattsson K, Adolfsson K, Ekvall MT, Borgström MT, Linse S, Hansson LA, et al. Translocation of 40 nm diameter nanowires through the intestinal epithelium of Daphnia magna. Nanotoxicology. 2016;10:1160–7.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Mattsson K, Johnson EU, Malmendal A, Linse S, Hansson LA, Cedervall T. Brain damage and behavioural disorders in fish induced by plastic nanoparticles delivered through the food chain. Sci Rep. 2017;7:11452.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. McCarty JP, Second AL. Possible effects of PCB contamination on female plumage color and reproductive success in Hudson River Tree Swallows. Auk. 2000;117:987–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. McNab BK. Ecological factors affect the level and scaling of avian BMR. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2009;152:22–45.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  69. Moore CJ. Synthetic polymers in the marine environment: a rapidly increasing, long-term threat. Environ Res. 2008;108:131–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  70. Munshi-South J, Wilkinson GS. Bats and birds: exceptional longevity despite high metabolic rates. Ageing Res Rev. 2010;9:12–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. Nabi G, Ali M, Khan S, Kumar S. The crisis of water shortage and pollution in Pakistan: risk to public health, biodiversity, and ecosystem. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2019;26:10443–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Nabi G, Wang Y, Lü L, Jiang C, Ahmad S, Wu YF, et al. Bats and birds as viral reservoirs: a physiological and ecological perspective. Sci Total Environ. 2021;754:142372.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  73. Napper IE, Davies BFR, Clifford H, Elvin S, Koldewey HJ, Mayewski PA, et al. Reaching new heights in plastic pollution—preliminary findings of microplastics on mount everest. One Earth. 2020;3:621–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Nelms SE, Barnett J, Brownlow A, Davison NJ, Deaville R, Galloway TS, et al. Microplastics in marine mammals stranded around the British coast: ubiquitous but transitory? Sci Rep. 2019;9:1075.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  75. O’Shea TJ, Stafford CJ. Phthalate plasticizers: accumulation and effects on weight and food consumption in captive starlings. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 1980;25:345–52.

    PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  76. Orme CDL, Davies RG, Olson VA, Thomas GH, Ding TS, Rasmussen PC, et al. Global patterns of geographic range size in birds. PLoS Biol. 2006;4:e208.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Ottinger MA, Quinn MJ Jr, Lavoie E, Abdelnabi MA, Thompson N, Hazelton JL, et al. Consequences of endocrine disrupting chemicals on reproductive endocrine function in birds: establishing reliable end points of exposure. Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2005;29:411–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  78. Ottinger MA, Lavoie E, Thompson N, Barton A, Whitehouse K, Barton M, et al. Neuroendocrine and behavioral effects of embryonic exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in birds. Brain Res Rev. 2008;57:376–85.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  79. Patrício Silva AL, Prata JC, Walker TR, Duarte AC, Ouyang W, Barcelò D, et al. Increased plastic pollution due to COVID-19 pandemic: challenges and recommendations. Chem Eng J. 2021;405: 126683.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  80. Pierce KE, Harris RJ, Larned LS, Pokras MA. Obstruction and starvation associated with plastic ingestion in a northern gannet morus bassanus and a greater shearwater Puffinus Gravis. Mar Ornithol. 2004;32:187–9.

    Google Scholar 

  81. Plaza PI, Blanco G, Madariaga J, Boeri E, Teijeiro ML, Bianco G, et al. Scavenger birds exploiting rubbish dumps: pathogens at the gates. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2018;2019(66):873–81.

    Google Scholar 

  82. Provencher JF, Bond AL, Avery Gomm S, Borrelle SB, Bravo Rebolledo EL, Hammer S, et al. Quantifying ingested debris in marine megafauna: a review and recommendations for standardization. Anal Methods. 2017;9:1454–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  83. Prüst M, Meijer J, Westerink RHS. The plastic brain: neurotoxicity of micro- and nanoplastics. Part Fibre Toxicol. 2020;17:24.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  84. Puskic P, Lavers JL, Adams LA, Grünenwald M, Hutton I, Bond AL. Uncovering the sub-lethal effects of plastic ingestion by shearwaters using fatty acid analysis. Conserv Physiol. 2019;7:coz017.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  85. Rapp DC, Youngren SM, Hartzell P, David HK. Community-wide patterns of plastic ingestion in seabirds breeding at French frigate shoals, northwestern Hawaiian islands. Mar Pollut Bull. 2017;123:269–78.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  86. Rathi A, Basu S, Barman S. Adsorptive removal of fipronil from its aqueous solution by modified zeolite HZSM-5: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic study. J Mol Liq. 2019;283:867–78.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  87. Reddy AVB, Moniruzzaman M, Aminabhavi TM. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the environment: recent updates on sampling, pretreatment, cleanup technologies and their analysis. Chem Eng J. 2019;358:1186–207.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  88. Revel M, Châtel A, Mouneyrac C. Micro(nano)plastics: a threat to human health? Curr Opin Environ Sci Health. 2018;1:17–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  89. Reynolds C, Ryan PG. Micro-plastic ingestion by waterbirds from contaminated wetlands in South Africa. Mar Pollut Bull. 2018;126:330–3.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  90. Ribeira F, Garcia AR, Pereira BP, Fonseca M, Mestre NC, Fonseca TG, et al. Microplastics effects on Scrobicularia plano. Mar Pollut Bull. 2017;122:379–91.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  91. Rideout BA, Stalis I, Papendick R, Pessier A, Puschner B, Finkelstein ME, et al. Patterns of mortality in free-ranging California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus). J Wildl Dis. 2012;48:95–112.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  92. Rochman CM, Browne MA, Halpern BS, Hentschel BT, Hoh E, Karapanagioti HK, et al. Policy: classify plastic waste as hazardous. Nature. 2013;494:169–71.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  93. Rochman CM, Kurobe T, Flores I, Teh SJ. Early warning signs of endocrine disruption in adult fish from the ingestion of polyethylene with and without sorbed chemical pollutants from the marine environment. Sci Total Environ. 2014;493:656–61.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  94. Rodríguez A, Rodríguez B, Carrasco MN. High prevalence of parental delivery of plastic debris in Cory’s shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea). Mar Pollut Bull. 2012;64:2219–23.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  95. Roman L, Lowenstine L, Parsley LM, Wilcox C, Hardesty BD, Gilardi K, et al. Is plastic ingestion in birds as toxic as we think? Insights from a plastic feeding experiment. Sci Total Environ. 2019;665:660–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  96. Ryan PG. Entanglement of birds in plastics and other synthetic materials. Mar Pollut Bull. 2018;135:159–64.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  97. Sánchez R, Sánchez J, Oria J, Guil F. Do supplemental perches influence electrocution risk for diurnal raptors? Avian Res. 2020;11:20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  98. Sanderson JT, Elliott JE, Norstrom RJ, Whitehead PE, Hart LE, Cheng KM, et al. Monitoring biological effects of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and biphenyls in Great Blu Heron Chicks (Ardea herodias) in British Columbia. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1994;41:435–50.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  99. Sletten S, Bourgeon S, Badsen BJ, Herzke D, Criscuolo F, Massemin S, et al. Organohalogenated contaminants nestlings: An assessment of relationships to immunoglobulin levels, telomeres and oxidative stress. Sci Total Environ. 2016;539:337–49.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  100. Sun YF, Ren Z, Wu YF, Lei FM, Dudley R, Li DM. Flying high: limits to flight performance by sparrows on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. J Exp Biol. 2016;219:3642–8.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  101. Susanti NK, Mardiastuti A, Wardiatno Y. Microplastics and the impact of plastic on wildlife: a literature review. Environ Earth Sci. 2020;528:012013.

    Google Scholar 

  102. Tanaka K, Takada H, Yamashita R, Mizukawa K, Fukuwaka M, Watanuki Y. Accumulation of plastic-derived chemicals in tissues of seabirds ingesting marine plastics. Mar Pollut Bull. 2013;69:219–22.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  103. Tanaka K, Watanuki Y, Takada H, Ishizuka M, Yamashita R, Kazama M, et al. In vivo accumulation of plastic-derived chemicals into seabird tissues. Curr Biol. 2020;30:723–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  104. Tauler-Ametlller H, Pretus JL, Hernández-Matías A, Ortiz-Santaliestra ME, Mateo R, Real J. Domestic waste disposal sites secure food availability but diminish plasma antioxidants in Egyptian vulture. Sci Total Environ. 2019;650:1382–91.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  105. Teuten EL, Saquing JM, Knappe DRU, Barlaz MA, Jonsson S, Björn A, et al. Transport and release of chemicals from plastics to the environment and to wildlife. Philos Trans R Soc B. 2009;364:2027–45.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  106. Verlis KM, Campbell ML, Wilson SP. Ingestion of marine debris plastic by the wedge-tailed shearwater Ardenna pacifica in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Mar Pollut Bull. 2013;72:244–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  107. von Moos N, Burkhardt-Holm P, Kohler A. Uptake and effects of microplastics on cells and tissue of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis L. after an experimental exposure. Environ Sci Technol. 2012;46:11327–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  108. Waring RH, Harris RM, Mitchell SC. Plastic contamination of the food chain: a threat to human health? Maturitas. 2018;115:64–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  109. Wilcox C, Van Sebille E, Hardesty BD. Threat of plastic pollution to seabirds is global, pervasive, and increasing. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2015;112:11899–904.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  110. Wright SL, Thompson RC, Galloway TS. The physical impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: a review. Environ Pollut. 2013;178:483–92.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  111. Yamashita R, Takada H, Fukuwaka MA, Watanuki Y. Physical and chemical effects of ingested plastic debris on short-tailed shearwaters, Puffinus tenuirostris, in the North Pacific Ocean. Mar Pollut Bull. 2011;62:2845–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  112. Yang Y, Zhang YM, Ding J, Ai SW, Guo R, Bai XJ. Optimal analysis conditions for sperm motility parameters with a CASA system in a passerine bird Passer montanus. Avian Res. 2019;10:35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  113. Yang Y, Zhang W, Wang S, Zhang H, Zhang Y. Response of male reproductive function to environmental heavy metal pollution in a free-living passerine bird, Passer montanus. Sci Total Environ. 2020;747:141402.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  114. Yin L, Chen B, Xia B, Shi X, Qu K. Polystyrene microplastics alter the behavior, energy reserve and nutritional composition of marine jacopever (Sebastes schlegelii). J Hazard Mater. 2018;360:97–105.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  115. Yin L, Liu H, Cui H, Chen B, Li L, Wu F. Impacts of polystyrene microplastics on the behavior and metabolism in a marine demersal teleost, black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii). J Hazard Mater. 2019;380:120861.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  116. Young LC, Vanderlip C, Duffy DC, Afanasyev V, Shaffer SA. Bringing home the trash: do colony-based differences in foraging distribution lead to increased plastic ingestion in Laysan albatrosses? PLoS ONE. 2009;4:e7623.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  117. Yu LH, Luo XJ, Liu HY, Zeng YH, Zheng XB, Wu JP, et al. Organohalogen contamination in passerine birds from three metropolises in China: geographical variation and its implication for anthropogenic effects on urban environments. Environ Pollut. 2014;188:118–23.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  118. Zhang YZ, Zuo YZ, Du ZH, Xia J, Zhang C, Wang H, et al. Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)-induced hepatotoxicity in quails (Coturnix Japonica) via triggering nuclear xenobiotic receptors and modulating cytochrome P450 systems. Food Chem Toxicol. 2018;120:287–93.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  119. Zhao S, Zhu L, Li D. Microscopic anthropogenic litter in terrestrial birds from Shanghai, China: not only plastics but also natural fibers. Sci Total Environ. 2016;550:1110–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  120. Zhu D, Bi QF, Xiang Q, Chen QL, Christie P, Ke X, et al. Trophic predator-prey relationships promote transport of microplastics compared with the single Hypoaspis aculeifer and Folsomia candida. Environ Pollut. 2018;235:150–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  121. Zhu YG, Zhu D, Xu T, Ma J. Impacts of (micro) plastics on soil ecosystem: progress and perspective. J Agro-Environ Sci. 2019;38:1–6.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, 31971413) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (NSFHB, C2020205038) to DL; the NSFHB (C2020205005), the Foundation of Hebei Normal University (17116027), and the Postdoctoral Research Foundation of China (PRFC, 2020M670685) to LW; the PRFC (2020M680902) to LY.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China

    Limin Wang, Ghulam Nabi, Liyun Yin, Yanqin Wang, Shuxin Li, Zhuang Hao & Dongming Li

Authors
  1. Limin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ghulam Nabi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Liyun Yin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yanqin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shuxin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zhuang Hao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Dongming Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

LW and GN: methodology, validation, investigation, writing original draft; LY, YW, SL, and ZH: help of writing original draft; DL: conceptualization, supervision, writing the draft, and funding acquisition. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dongming Li.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, L., Nabi, G., Yin, L. et al. Birds and plastic pollution: recent advances. Avian Res 12, 59 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-021-00293-2

Download citation

Keywords

  • Birds
  • Microplastics pollution
  • Plastics pollution
  • Toxicological effects

Avian Research

ISSN: 2053-7166