Microplastics Found in Birds’ Lungs in New Study

While previous research has revealed the presence of microplastics in human lungs, a new study confirms that microplastics are making their way into birds’ lungs as well.

The study, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, is the first to confirm microplastic presence in birds’ lungs. The researchers focused on analyzing potential microplastics in birds, as bird health can provide insights and warnings about potential impacts on the surrounding environment.

“Birds serve as important indicators of environmental conditions,” Shane DuBay, co-author of the study and an assistant professor of biology at University of Texas at Arlington, said in a statement. “They help us understand the state of the environment and make informed decisions about conservation and pollution control.”

To complete the research, the team, including collaborators from Sichuan University and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, collected lung samples from 56 individual birds representing 51 different species. The birds were collected from the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport.

In testing the lung samples, the scientists used laser direct infrared technology to count the microplastics present along with pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass-spectrometry to detect for nanoplastics. The team was also able to use these two methods to determine what types of plastic particles were present in the birds.

They found microplastics present in all 51 species. The results showed an average of 221.20 microplastic particles per species and 416.22 microplastic particles per gram of lung tissue, revealing an alarming amount of plastics in the birds’ lungs. In the study, the scientists detected 32 different types of plastics, with the most common types being chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) and butadiene rubber (BR), a pollutant found in vehicle tires. The particles found in the lungs were mostly in film or pellet form.

The identification of butadiene rubber particles adds to growing research on the pollution coming from vehicle tires. In a separate study published in February 2025, researchers revealed that vehicle tires were the top source of nanoparticle pollution in the Alps. An analysis published in 2022 determined that particle pollution from vehicle tires was even worse than tailpipe exhaust pollution.

The researchers warned that the high levels of microplastic and nanoplastic particles in the lungs of birds could be a canary in the coal mine for environmental and public health. The team concluded that their findings show that birds can be a bioindicator of the level of airborne plastic particle pollution, which could affect other wildlife and humans.

With increasing plastic and plastic particle pollution, scientists are concerned over how these pollutants could impact human health. According to the American Lung Association, the amount of plastic waste is expected to triple by 2040, and research has suggested that inhaling plastic particles and their related chemicals can damage lungs, although research is ongoing to determine how long-term exposure affects lung health.

“Our research highlights an urgent need to address plastic pollution in our environments, as these contaminants can have far-reaching impacts on ecosystem health, as well as human health,” DuBay said. “Our findings call for further research, funding and action to mitigate the harmful effects of plastic pollution and ensure a healthier environment.”