Livestock and Microplastics

Dear Colleagues,

Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging pollutant in livestock, responsible for interconnected risks to the environment, husbandry, production chain (from feeds to foods), and animal health. In fact, MPs were recently detected inside ruminant bodies, in their feces, and in animal products for humans (milk and meat). Strategies for the prevention of MP contamination in farms need to be studied. Moreover, there is an urgent need to find fast methods for detecting and measuring MPs in the livestock sector that are possibly applicable to farms. Currently, the methods are time-consuming and laborious, and they vary depending on the nature of the matrices. Another crucial issue is reducing MP contamination; livestock could directly contribute to this. For example, the hydrolytic enzymes that some rumen and gut microorganisms produce can degrade natural and synthetic polyesters. This and other strategies need to be thoroughly investigated. To summarize, in this Topic, authors are strongly invited to work on the following:

• The issue of microplastics in the livestock sector (environment, husbandry, feeds, foods, and health).
• Simple and innovative MP detection and measurement methods that are suitable for livestock matrices (feeds, animals, animal products, urine, manure, etc.).
• Studies on possible strategies for the prevention of and reduction in MP contaminants in livestock and farms.
• Studies on the potential ability of rumen and gut microbiota to degrade MPs and other strategies.

Dr. Sonia Tassone
Prof. Dr. Beniamino T. Cenci-Goga
Topic Editors