Timely Alert: Seabirds Suffer from a Plastic-Induced Disease Called Plasticosis
Plastic is ubiquitous and has become so common that it affects the health of animals and people.
A new study shows that seabirds suffer from a plastic-induced disease called “plasticity.”
New diseases reported in seabirds may be just the tip of the iceberg.
Rather than being caused by viruses or bacteria, “plastic disease” is caused by tiny pieces of plastic that inflame the digestive tract. , digestion and survival.
Dr. Alex Bond, the study’s co-author, lead curator and curator of the museum’s birds, said, “These birds may look healthy on the outside, but they’re doing well on the inside. I haven’t,” he said.
“This study is the first time stomach tissue has been investigated in this way, and indicates that plastic consumption can seriously damage the digestive system of these birds.”
Plastic disease is so far only known from one species, but the scale of plastic pollution means it can be much more widespread. It can even affect human health.
The findings were published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.
Original: ‘Plasticosis’: A new plastic-induced disease affecting seabirds
Than: natural history museum london
