The Department of Animal Production organized a seminar titled “The Impact of Microplastic Pollution in Poultry Production.” The session was presented by master’s student Dua’a Ali Musa and attended by the Head of the Department, Prof. Dr. Hussam Jassim Bananeh, along with a number of faculty members and postgraduate students.
The seminar addressed the significant increase in plastic production and its widespread use in consumer goods (such as packaging materials and cosmetics). Weak strategies for managing plastic waste have increased the risk of microplastics reaching the human food chain—including animal and plant products, table salt, sugar, and bottled water. The transfer of microplastics to poultry has been linked to health complications such as weakened immune response and disruptions in the gut microbiome, leading to higher mortality rates and reduced productivity.
The seminar aimed to introduce types and classifications of microplastics and strategies for addressing this environmental challenge through three main approaches: reducing plastic usage; establishing facilities to recycle plastic waste into fuel or other useful products; and utilizing biological degradation via microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) to break down plastics into materials that can be reintegrated into production systems.
The session concluded by emphasizing awareness of reducing plastic use in poultry production and adopting biodegradable alternatives, thereby mitigating environmental impacts and limiting the entry of microplastics into the food chain.
