Lord Howe Island via Australia.com
Plastic is everywhere, and has become so common that it is impacting the health of animals and people.
New research now shows that seabirds are suffering from a plastic-induced illness named ‘plasticosis’.
A new disease has been described in seabirds, but it might just be the tip of the iceberg.
Rather than being caused by viruses or bacteria, ‘plasticosis’ is caused by small pieces of plastic which inflame the digestive tract. Over time, persistent inflammation causes tissues to become scarred and deformed, with knock-on effects on growth, digestion and survival.
Dr Alex Bond, who co-authored the study and is Principal Curator and Curator in Charge of Birds at the Museum, says, ‘While these birds can look healthy on the outside, they’re not doing well on the inside.’
‘This study is the first time that stomach tissue has been investigated in this way and shows that plastic consumption can cause serious damage to these birds’ digestive system.’
While plasticosis is only known from one species so far, the scale of plastic pollution means that it may be much more widespread. It could even be having impacts on human health.
The findings of the research were published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.
Original Article: ‘Plasticosis’: a new disease caused by plastic that is affecting seabirds
More from: Natural History Museum London
The Latest Updates from Bing News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Plasticosis
- Shocking UN Report Reveals: Plastic Pollution Set to Plummet by 80% by 2040
Earlier this year, scientists discovered a disease called plasticosis in birds, caused by plastic ingestion, which inflames the digestive tract. Andersen said Kenya was one of the countries that ...
- Letters to the Editor Sunday, March 12
The birds identified as having the disease, named plasticosis, have scarred digestive tracts from ingesting plastic waste. Plastic pollution is becoming so prevalent that the scarring is ...
- For people and planet, plastic pollution must end
Fifty years ago, plastic was not as ubiquitous as it is today — microplastics in soil were not limiting crop growth and the equivalent of a garbage truck's worth was not dumped in our oceans every ...
- The photo that made the plastics crisis personal
Chris Jordan's photos of dead albatross chicks with plastic in their guts went viral. Over a decade later, Anna Turns looks at how it changed our response to the plastics crisis ...
- Plastic pollution is so bad for animals it now has a disease name — 'plasticosis'
Flesh-footed shearwater seabirds ingest plastic that leads to scarring of their internal organs, kidney and liver disease, all of which results in them starving and becoming more vulnerable to ...
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Plastic pollution
- World Environment Day: FCTA Perm Sec harps on collective action to end plastic pollution
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr Olusade Adesola, has called for urgent collective strategic steps towards reducing plastic production, usage and ensuring ...
- Plastic recycling not solution to its pollution: activists
Green activists at a seminar on Wednesday said that recycling of used plastic was not the solution to plastic pollution and they stressed the need for reducing waste to combat ...
- NESREA, FRIN partner to limit plastic waste pollution
NESREA and Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) have reiterated their commitment to reduce plastic pollution in the country.
- First draft of a global treaty to curb plastic pollution expected by November
More than 170 nations have agreed to develop the first draft of a global plastic pollution treaty by November, following the United Nations conference negotiations in Paris earlier this month. Should ...
- New construction materials made from plastic bags hit the market as solution to pollution
Recycling single use plastic grocery bags into bricks and other sustainable materials could reduce pollution along highways and landfills, according to a former New Mexican who views environment ...
