Microplastic Contamination in Edible Tissues of Broiler and Free -Range Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) from Nigeria: Polymer and Morphological Characterisation Using ATR-FTIR and SEM with Comparison of KOH and Fenton Digestion Protocols
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1015-5607Keywords:
Microplastics, Emerging Contaminant, Fenton Oxidation, KOH Digestion, Food Safety, Poultry TissuesAbstract
Microplastic (MP) contamination of commercially consumed poultry tissues represents an emerging but poorly characterized food safety risk, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where plastic waste management infrastructure is severely inadequate. This study aims to identify and characterize MPs from liver, heart, and breast muscle of broiler and local chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Chikun LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria using ATR-FTIR and SEM, compare KOH and Fenton digestion efficiency, A total of 30 samples (liver, heart and muscle) from ten chickens were processed using two independent digestion protocols: Alkaline (10% w/v KOH) and Fenton oxidative (H2O2/Fe2+), each applied to separate samples across three tissues. Isolated particles were characterized by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). ATR-FTIR identified five polymer types: polyethylene (PE) at 63.2%, polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at 47.4%, polypropylene (PP) 15.7% and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) 10.5%. Broiler tissues showed consistently more accumulation and polymer diversity. A tissue-specific accumulation hierarchy was demonstrated: with liver showing the highest MPs accumulation and polymer diversity. Fenton oxidative digestion produced higher detection frequency of PET polymer among analysed samples and efficient in dissolving lipid rich biological tissues. SEM analysis of 19 MP-positive filter samples revealed four morphological categories: fragments, fibers, foam and spheres. This study provides preliminary evidence of MPs contamination in edible tissues of chickens which suggests that poultry tissues may represent a potential exposure pathway in humans. It also recommends Fenton digestion as the protocol for tissues with high fat content in MP analysis.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mercy O. Boyi, Adetutu Oluwakemi Aliyu, Saidu Garba, Abdulafeez Akorede
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