A study by Portsmouth University researchers focused on donkey droppings, but yielded findings with much wider implications for the environment and human health.
What is going on?
Although faecal samples collected from donkeys and cows were an integral part of the research, its current focus was plastic pollution. Specifically, the researchers sought insight into the widespread problem of microplastics, defined as plastic debris measuring five millimeters or less.
As the authors note, research into microplastics and animals tends to focus on marine wildlife; when microplastics were first identified in 2004, it was by a marine biologist.
“While the widespread negative impacts of plastic pollution on marine species are well-researched and undisputed, the impacts of plastic pollution on terrestrial species are largely understudied,” the researchers wrote, citing “a critical evidence gap that needs to be filled.”
In collaboration with organizations such as The Donkey Sanctuary, the researchers entered the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lamu Island — off the coast of Kenya — where cars are banned and “working donkeys” are integral to daily life.
The researchers first observed the animals, a quarter of which were cows and the rest were donkeys, as they grazed. Later, they collected more than three dozen poop samples and analyzed them for plastic particulate matter.
Worryingly, 100% of the cow and donkey faecal samples collected contained microplastics.
Why is this concerning?
Throughout the newly published study, the authors repeatedly acknowledged an abundance of research on marine microplastics, along with a lack of land-based data.
Microplastics are still considered an emerging threat to health. Scientists are continuing to work to pinpoint their prevalence in the environment and their impact on wildlife and human health.
Existing research has shown that microplastics pervade every corner of the planet, appearing in places that humans rarely visit or cannot reach.
Microplastics have been linked to a number of adverse human health outcomes, including an increased risk of heart attack, vascular damage, and some cancers.
According to Phys.org, Dr. Obadiah Sing’Oei, the program manager of The Donkey Sanctuary, recalled witnessing the “terrible – and preventable – suffering caused to donkeys who ingested plastics” at the clinic on Lamu Island and described the findings as both validation and a call to action.
What is being done about it?
“This study provides hard evidence of the true scale of the problem and its widespread impact. Together with our partners, we will not rest until we have a united solution to create a safer environment for all,” promised Sing’Oei.
Tackling the urgent problem of microplastics on a global scale will take time, but individuals can limit their household’s direct exposure to this ubiquitous health risk.
Small changes, like using less plastic and swapping out your most used items for plastic-free alternatives, can make a big difference.
��
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices — and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD’s exclusive Rewards Club.