Scientists have described a new disease called plasticosis. This is, as you might guess, directly caused by plastic waste in the environment. So far, the disease has only been identified in the gut of seabirds, but the scale of the problem suggests that it may spread to other species and different body parts.
Plastic is one of the most ubiquitous materials in the modern world, so it’s no surprise that it’s also one of the most common pollutants. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest peaks, vast amounts of material have accumulated. Microscale plastic debris has been detected in fish, birds, whales, seals, livestock and humans, and the extent of the biological damage they cause is still under investigation.
For a new study, scientists at London’s Natural History Museum are looking to the health of a seabird species known as the Greater shearwater, which previous research found to be one of the most plastic-contaminated birds in the world. In doing so, the team found that the symptoms in birds were so consistent that they deserved to explain the new disease.
Plasticity got its name because of its similarity to other fibrotic diseases caused by inorganic substances, such as silicosis and asbestosis. Small pieces of plastic can get lodged in a bird’s digestive tract, causing chronic inflammation and scarring, and many other problems.
The team found that exposure to microplastics causes the first chamber of the stomach, the forestomach, to become inflamed and scarred until it finally begins to break down. It can inhibit the glands that secrete digestive compounds, affect vitamin absorption, and make them more vulnerable to infections and parasites. and may starve to death.
For those who survive, plasticity seems to stunt their growth. More plastic means less overall weight and shorter wings.
So far, plasticity has only been documented in the digestive system of these petrels, but given how common the contaminant is, the disease affects other species as well. It can cause similar scarring on other parts of the body, the team says. Investigating this could be an important step in future work.
This research dangerous goods journal.
Source: Natural History Museum
