Wild Brazilian mammals average 73.8 blood microplastic particles per millilitre

A Nature study paired high-resolution GPS tracks with blood measurements from 26 lowland tapirs and 21 giant anteaters in Brazil. Only four of the 47 animals had no detected microplastics. The mean was 73.8 particles per millilitre, ranging from zero to 1,211.3, and burdens were generally higher when home ranges had a stronger human footprint or were closer to development and waste-management infrastructure. Particles also appeared in animals far from development, suggesting that air, water or food webs can carry pollution into remote ecosystems. The study shows an exposure association, not a specific disease effect, and 47 animals cannot represent every species.