First report on the presence of microplastics in bovine and porcine livers from Costa Rica
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15359/ru.40-1.1Keywords:
Bovine, contamination, liver, microplastics, porcineAbstract
[Objective] Given the ease with which microplastics (MPs) are transported, ecosystems around the world are being polluted with these particles. Reports on the presence of MPs in marine organisms are alarming, but research on the presence of such particles in the terrestrial environment is still very scarce in Costa Rica, and even scarcer for the Central American region. Given this situation, it was considered urgent to carry out a multidisciplinary investigation to obtain information about MP contamination of animal tissues destined for human consumption. [Methodology] Samples of 20 livers from bovines and 18 from porcine, were purchased from local markets in 4 of the main meat-producing regions of the country. All samples were chemically digested with potassium hydroxide for the extraction of microplastic particles.. [Results] Ninety percent of the bovine livers were positive for the presence of MPs, as were 83.3% of the porcine livers. Fibers and films, ranging from 220 µm to 4.5 mm, most of which were blue-green in color, were found. [Conclusions] These findings provide information about the types of MPs that were present in the samples analyzed, but they do not aid in determining the exact origin of the particles and how they reached livers of the animals. Nonetheless, it is now clear that these pollutants are reaching human and animal populations, and since adverse effects have already been reported due to the presence of these particles in the human body, these results must be taken into account by healthcare professionals when considering any emerging diseases.
Downloads
References
Aldana Aranda, D., Oxenford, H.A., Medina, J., Delgado, G., Enríquez Díaz, M., Samano, C., Castillo Escalante, V., Bardet, M., Mouret, E. & Bouchon, C. (2022). Widespread microplastic pollution across the Caribbean Sea confirmed using queen conch. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 178, 113582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113582
Allen, S., Allen, D., Phoenix, V. R., Le Roux, G., Durántez Jiménez, P., Simonneau, A. & Galop, D. (2019). Atmospheric transport and deposition of microplastics in a remote mountain catchment. Nature Geoscience, 12(5), 339-344. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-019-0335-5
Andrady, A.L. (2011). Microplastics in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(8), 1596-1605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.05.030
Astorga-Pérez, A., Ulate-Naranjo, K. & Abarca-Guerrero, L. (2022a). Presencia de microplásticos en especies marinas del Parque Nacional Marino las Baulas. Tecnología en marcha, 35(2), 27-38. https://doi.org/10.18845/tm.v35i2.5466
Astorga-Pérez, A., Montero-Cordero, A., Golfin-Duarte, G., García-Rojas, A., Vega-Bolaños, H., Arias-Zumbado, F., Solís-Adolio, D. & Ulate-Naranjo, K. (2022b). Microplastics found in the World Heritage Site Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica. Marine and Fishery Sciences, 35(3), 403-420. https://doi.org/10.47193/mafis.3532022010907
Bermúdez-Guzmán, L., Alpízar-Villalobos, C., Gatgens-García, J., Jiménez-Huezo, G., Rodríguez-Arias, M., Molina, H., Villalobos, J., Paniagua, S., Vega-Baudrit, J.-R. & Rojas-Jimenez, K. (2022). Microplastic ingestion by a herring Opisthonema sp. in the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 38, 101367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2020.101367
Bessa, F., Kogel, T., Frias, J., & Lusher, A. (2019). Harmonized protocol for monitoring microplastics in biota. JPi-oceans BaseMan project. https://doi.org/10.13140/rG.2.2.28588.72321/1
Blettler, M. C. M., Abrial, E., Khan, F. R., Sivri, N. & Espinola, L. A. (2018). Freshwater plastic pollution: Recognizing research biases and identifying knowledge gaps. Water Research, 143, 416-424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.06.015
Blumenröder, J., Sechet, P., Kakkonen, J. E., & Hartl, M. G. J. (2017). Microplastic contamination of intertidal sediments of Scapa Flow, Orkney: A first assessment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 124(1), 112-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.07.009
Bouwmeester, H., Hollman, P. C. & Peters, R. J. (2015). Potential health impact of environmentally released micro- and nanoplastics in the human food production chain: experiences from nanotoxicology. Environmental Science & Technology, 49(15), 8932-47. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b01090
Campanale, C., Massarelli, C., Savino, I., Locaputo, V. & Uricchio, V. F. (2020). A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(4), 1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041212
Chacón Villalobos, A. (2021). Consumo de carne y productos cárnicos entre estudiantes de la Universidad de Costa Rica. Población y Salud en Mesoamérica, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.15517/psm.v19i2.46174
Chae, Y., Kim, D., Kim, S. W. & An, Y. J. (2018). Trophic transfer and individual impact of nano-sized polystyrene in a four-species freshwater food chain. Scientific Reports, 8, 284. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-18849-y
Cole, M., Webb, H., Lindeque, P. K., Fileman, E. S., Halsband, C. & Galloway, T. S. (2014). Isolation of microplastics in biota-rich seawater samples and marine organisms. Scientific Reports, 4, 4528. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep04528
Cox, K. D., Covernton, G. A., Davies, H. L., Dower, J. F., Juanes, F., & Dudas, S. E. (2019). Human Consumption of Microplastics. Environmental Science and Technology, 53(12), 7068-7074. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b01517
Danopoulos, E., Twiddy, M. & Rotchell, J. M. (2020). Microplastic contamination of drinking water: A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 15(7), e0236838. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236838
Davidson, T. M. (2012). Boring crustaceans damage polystyrene floats under docks polluting marine waters with microplastic. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 64(9), 1821-1828. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.06.005
Delvalle de Borrero, D., Fábrega Duque, J., Olmos, J., Garcés-Ordóñez, O., Gurgel do Amaral, S. S., Vezzone, M., de Sá Felizardo, J. P. & Meigikos dos Anjos, R. (2020). Distribution of Plastic Debris in the Pacific and Caribbean Beaches of Panama. Air, Soil and Water Research, 13, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/1178622120920268
Deng, Y., Zhang, Y., Lemos, B. & Ren, H. (2017). Tissue accumulation of microplastics in mice and biomarker responses suggest widespread health risks of exposure. Scientific Reports, 7, 46687. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep46687
Dris, R., Imhof, H. K., Löder, M. G. J., Gasperi, J., Laforsch, C., & Tassin, B. (2018). Microplastic Contamination in Freshwater Systems: Methodological Challenges, Occurrence and Sources. In E. Y. Zeng (Ed.), Microplastic Contamination in Aquatic Environments. An Emerging Matter of Environmental Urgency, (pp. 51-93). Elsevier.
Elizalde-Velazquez, A., Carcano, A. M., Crago, J., Green, M. J., Shah, S. A. & Cañas-Carrell, J. E. (2020). Translocation, trophic transfer, accumulation and depuration of polystyrene microplastics in Daphnia magna and Pimephales promelas. Environmental Pollution, 259, 1139372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.113937
Enders, K., Lenz, R., Ivar Do Sul, J. A., Tagg, A. S. & Labrenz, M. (2020). When every particle matters: a Quechers approach to extract microplastics from environmental samples. Methodsx, 7, 100784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2020.100784
Fallon, B. R. & Freeman, C. J. (2021). Plastics in Porifera: The occurrence of potential microplastics in marine sponges and seawater from Bocas del Toro, Panamá. PeerJ, 9, e11638. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11638
Galloway, T. S., Cole, M. & Lewis, C. (2017). Interactions of microplastic debris throughout the marine ecosystem. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 1(5), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0116.
Garrido, E. & Costanzo, V. (2022). Microplastics in food commodities – A food safety review on human exposure through dietary sources. FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc2392en
Haave, M., Gomiero, A., Schönheit, J., Nilsen, H. & Olsen, A. B. (2021) Documentation of Microplastics in Tissues of Wild Coastal Animals. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 9, 575058. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.575058
Haluska, K. (2020). WWU Research Team Examines the Effects of Microplastics and Pesticides on Corn. Western Washington University. Retrieved on June 26, 2024, https://westerntoday.wwu.edu/features/wwu-research-team-examines-the-effects-of-microplastics-and-pesticides-on-corn
Hidalgo-Ruz, V., Gutow, L., Thompson, R. C., & Thiel, M. (2012). Microplastics in the marine environment: a review of the methods used for identification and quantification. Environmental Science & Technology, 46(6), 3060-3075. https://doi.org/10.1021/es2031505
Horton, A. A., Walton, A., Spurgeon, D. J., Lahive, E., & Svendsen, C. (2017). Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: Evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities. Science of the Total Environment, 586, 127-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.190
Horvatits, T., Tamminga, M., Liu, B., Sebode, M., Carambia, A., Fischer, L., Püschel, K., Huber, S., & Fischer, E. K. (2022). Microplastics detected in cirrhotic liver tissue. eBioMedicine, 82, 104-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104147
Hu, Y., Lin, S., Tang, J., Li, Y., Wang, X., Jiang, Y., Zhang, H. & Wang, B. (2023). Effects of microplastics and lead exposure on gut oxidative stress and intestinal inflammation in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Environmental Pollution, 327, 121528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121528
Huerta-Lwanga, E., Mendoza-Vega, J., Ku-Quej, V., Chi, J. L. A., Sanchez Del Cid, L., Chi, C., Escalona-Segura, G., Gertsen, H., Salánki, T., Van der Ploeg, M., Koelmans, A. A. & Geissen, V. (2017). Field evidence for transfer of plastic debris along a terrestrial food chain. Scientific Reports, 7, 14071. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14588-2
Hussain, N., Jaitley, V., & Florence, A. T. (2001). Recent advances in the understanding of uptake of microparticulates across the gastrointestinal lymphatics. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 50, 107-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-409X(01)00152-1
Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. (2022). Encuesta Nacional Agropecuaria. Retrieved on June 26, 2024. https://admin.inec.cr/sites/default/files/2023-10/reagropecENAPECUARIO2022-01.pdf
Ivar Do Sul, J. A., & Costa, M. F. (2014). The present and future of microplastic pollution in the marine environment. Environmental Pollution, 185, 352-364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.10.036
Jabeen, K., Su, L., Li, J., Yang, D., Tong, C., Mu, J., & Shi, H. (2017). Microplastics and mesoplastics in fish from coastal and fresh waters of china. Environmental Pollution, 221, 141-149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.11.055
Johnson, D. E., Ross-Salazar, E., Gallagher, A., Rees, A., Sheridan-Rodríguez, C., Cambronero-Solano, S. & Barrio-Froján, C. (2018). Preventing plastics pervading an oceanic oasis: Building the case for the Costa Rica Thermal Dome to become a World Heritage site in ABNJ. Marine Policy, 96, 235-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.02.022
Kalra, A., Yetiskul, E., Wehrle, C. J. L., & Tuma, F. (2024). Physiology, Liver. StatPearls https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535438
Kim, J. S., Lee, H. J., Kim, S. K. & Kim, H. J. (2018). Global Pattern of Microplastics (MPs) in Commercial Food-Grade Salts: Sea Salt as an Indicator of Seawater MP Pollution. Environmental Science & Technology, 52, 12819-12828. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b04180
Kühn, S., Van-Werven, B., Van-Oyen, A., Meijboom, A., Bravo-Rebolledo, E. L. & Van-Frane- Ker, J. A. (2017). The use of potassium hydroxide (Koh) solution as a suitable approach to isolate plastics ingested by marine organisms. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 115, 86-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.11.034
Kutralam-Muniasamy, G., Perez-Guevara, F., Elizalde-Martínez, I. & Shruti, V. C. (2020). Review of current trends, advances and analytical challenges for microplastics contamination in Latin America. Environmental Pollution, 267, 115463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115463
Liebezeit, G. & Liebezeit, E. (2013). Non-pollen particulates in honey and sugar. Food Additives & Contaminants, 30, 2136-2140. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2013.843025
Lu, L., Wan, Z., Luo, T., Fu, Z. & Jin, Y. (2018). Polystyrene microplastics induce gut microbiota dysbiosis and hepatic lipid metabolism disorder in mice. Science of The Total Environment, 631, 449-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.051
Lu, Y., Zhang, Y., Deng, Y., Jiang, W., Zhao, Y., Geng, J., Ding, L. & Ren, H. (2016). Uptake and Accumulation of Polystyrene Microplastics in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Toxic Effects in Liver. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(7), 4054-4060. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b00183
Lucas, N., Bienaime, C., Belloy, C., Queneudec, M., Silvestre, F. & Nava-Saucedo, J. -E. (2008). Polymer biodegradation: Mechanisms and estimation techniques—A review. Chemosphere, 73, 429-442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.06.064
Madrigal-Meneses, M. & Caravaca-Rodríguez, I. (2020). Patrones de consumo aparente de alimentos según disponibilidad de acuerdo con la encuesta nacional de ingresos y gastos 2018. Retrieved on June 26, 2024. https://www.ministeriodesalud.go.cr/index.php/biblioteca-de-archivos-left/documentos-ministerio-de-salud/vigilancia-de-la-salud/normas-protocolos-guias-y-lineamientos/vigilancia-nutricional/consumo-aparente-enigh-ms/4461-patrones-de-consumo-aparente-de-alimentos-segun-disponibilidad-de-acuerdo-con-la-encuesta-nacional-de-ingresos-y-gastos-2018/file
Martin, J., Lusher, A., Thompson, R. & Morley, A. (2017). The deposition and accumulation of microplastics in marine sediments and bottom water from the Irish continental shelf. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 10772. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11079-2
Mazariegos-Ortíz, C., Rosales, M. A., Carrillo-Ovalle, L., Pereira Cardoso, R., Costa Muniz, M. & Meigikos dos Anjos, R. (2020). First evidence of microplastic pollution in the El Quetzalito sand beach of the Guatemalan Caribbean. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 156, 111220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111220
Oldenburg, K. S., Urban-Rich, J. Castillo, K. D. & Baumann, J. H. (2021). Microfiber abundance associated with coral tissue varies geographically on the Belize Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 163, 111938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111938
Orona-Návar, C., García-Morales, R., Loge, F. J., Mahlknecht, J., Aguilar-Hernández, I. & Ornelas-Soto, N. (2022). Microplastics in Latin America and the Caribbean: A review on current status and perspectives. Journal of Environmental Management, 309, 114698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114698
Osman, A. I., Hosny, M., Eltaweil, A. S., Omar, S., Elgarahy, A. M., Farghali, M., Yap, P. S., Wu, Y. S., Nagandran, S., Batumalaie, K., Gopinath, S. C. B., John, O. D., Sekar, M., Saikia, T., Karunanithi, P., Mohd-Hatta, M. H., & Akinyede, K. A. (2023). Microplastic sources, formation, toxicity and remediation: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 21, 2129-2169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-023-01593-3
Qiu, Q., Tan, Z., Wang, J., Peng, J., Li, M., & Zhan, Z. (2016). Extraction, enumeration and identification methods for monitoring microplastics in the environment. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 176, 102-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2016.04.012
Ramachandraiah, K., Ameerb, K., Jiang, G., & Hong, G. P. (2022). Micro- and nanoplastic contamination in livestock production: Entry pathways, potential effects and analytical challenges. Science of the Total Environment, 844, 157-234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157234
Rojas-Jiménez, K., Villalobos-Rojas, F., Gatgens-García, J., Rodríguez-Arias, M., Hernández-Montero, N. & Wehrtmann, I. S. (2022). Presence of microplastics in six bivalve species (Mollusca, Bivalvia) commercially exploited at the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Central America. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 183, 114040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114040
Schür, C., Rist, S., Baun, A., Mayer, P., Hartmann, N. B. & Wagnerc, M. (2019). When Fluorescence Is not a Particle: The Tissue Translocation of Microplastics in Daphnia magna Seems an Artifact. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 38 (7), 1495-1503. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4436
Schirinzi, G., Pérez-Pomeda, I., Sanchís Sandoval, J., Rossini, C., Farré, M. & Barceló, D. (2017). Cytotoxic effects of commonly used nanomaterials and microplastics on cerebral and epithelial human cells. Environmental Research, 159, 579-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.043
Shi, Y., Yi, L., Du, G., Hu, X., & Huang, Y. (2023). Visual characterization of microplastics in corn flour by near field molecular spectral imaging and data mining. Science of The Total Environment, 862, 160-714. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160714.
Solomando, A., Capo, X., Alomar, C., Álvarez, E., Compa, M., Valencia, J. M., Pinya, S., Deudero, S. & Sureda, A. (2020). Long-term exposure to microplastics induces oxidative stress and a pro-inflammatory response in the gut of Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758. Environmental Pollution, 266, 115295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115295
Triebskorn, R., Braunbeck, T., Grummt, T., Hanslik, L., Huppertsberg, S., Jekel, M., Knepper, T. P., Krais, S., Müller, Y. K., Pittroff, M., Ruhl, A., Schmieg, H., Schür, C., Strobel, C., Wagner, M., Zumbülte, N. & Köhler, H. R. (2019). Relevance of nano- and microplastics for freshwater ecosystems: A critical review. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 110, 375e392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2018.11.023
Urli, S., Corte Pause, F., Crociati, M., Baufeld, A., Monaci, M., & Stradaioli, G. (2023). Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Livestock Health: An Emerging Risk for Reproductive Efficiency. Animals, 13(7), 1132. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13071132
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Microplastics research. Retrieved April 9, 2025, from https://www.epa.gov/water-research/microplastics-research
Van der Veen, I., Van Mourik, L. M., Van Velzen, M. J. M., Groenewoud, Q. R., & Leslie, H. A. (2022). Plastic Particles in Livestock Feed, Milk, Meat and Blood. Retrieved on June 26, 2024. https://www.plasticsoupfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Final-Report-pilot-study-plastic-particles-in-livestock-feed-milk-meat-and-blood-SIGNED-1.pdf
Vethaak, A. D. & Leslie, H. A. (2016). Plastic debris is a human health issue. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(13), 6825-6. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b02569
Walkinshaw, C., Tolhurst, T. J., Lindeque, P. K., Thompson, R. & Cole, M. (2022) Detection and characterisation of microplastics and microfibres in fishmeal and soybean meal. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 185, 114-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114189
Wright, S. L. & Kelly, F. J. (2017). Plastic and human health: a micro issue? Environmental Science & Technology, 51(12), 6634-47. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b00423
Yang, D., Shi, H., Li, L., Li, J., Jabeen, K. & Kolandhasamy, P. (2015). Microplastic Pollution in Table Salts from China. Environmental Science & Technology, 49 (22), 13622-13627. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b03163
Yee, M. S. L, Hii, L. W., Looi, C. K., Lim, W. M., Wong, S. F., Kok, Y. Y., Tan, B. K., Wong, C. Y. & Leong C. O. (2021). Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Human Health. Nanomaterials, 11(2), 496. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11020496
Yu, P., Liu, Z., Wu, D., Chen, M., Lv, W. & Zhao, Y. (2018). Accumulation of polystyrene microplastics in juvenile Eriocheir sinensis and oxidative stress effects in the liver. Aquatic Toxicology, 200, 28-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.04.015
Zhang, Y., Kang, S., Allen, S., Allen, D., Gao, T. & Sillanpää, M. (2020). Atmospheric microplastics: a review on current status and perspectives. Earth-Science Reviews, 203, 103118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103118
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Shared by Journal and Authors (CC-BY-NC-ND)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1. Authors guarantee the journal the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
2. Authors can set separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, place it in an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
3. The authors have declared to hold all permissions to use the resources they provided in the paper (images, tables, among others) and assume full responsibility for damages to third parties.
4. The opinions expressed in the paper are the exclusive responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the editors or the Universidad Nacional.
Uniciencia Journal and all its productions are under Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 4.0 Unported.
There is neither fee for access nor Article Processing Charge (APC)
How to Cite
Funding data
-
Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica
Grant numbers SIA 0514-2019
