The plastic crisis has sparked a new SICKNESS in seabirds: Scientists say ‘plasticosis’ is caused by tiny bits of waste igniting the digestive tract
- Birds that died after eating plastic were found to have ‘deformed’ intestines
- Scientists say plasticosis is caused by plastic inflaming the digestive tract
- Young birds also have the disease because their parents have fed them plastic
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The plastic crisis has led to a new disease in seabirds, scientists warn.
Birds that died after eating large amounts of plastic were found to have scars in the front part of their stomachs and ‘deformed’ intestines.
Scientists have dubbed the new disease “plasticosis” and think it is caused by tiny bits of plastic inflaming the digestive tract.
Young birds also have the disease, thanks to their parents who feed them plastic.
Dr. Alex Bond, co-author of the study and chief curator and curator of birds at the Natural History Museum, said, “While these birds may look healthy on the outside, they’re not doing well on the inside.”
Scientists have identified a new disease – plasticosis – that kills seabirds that eat plastic waste
Studies of birds that died after eating large amounts of plastic were found to have scars in the first part of the bird’s stomach and ‘malformed’ intestines
Dr. Bond and Dr Jennifer Lavers studied 30 flesh-leg petrels from Australia’s Lord Howe Island to see the relationship between the amount of plastic ingested and the proventriculus organ – the first part of a bird’s stomach.
In the various birds examined during the study, the researchers found that scarring on the first part of the stomach was widespread.
Birds that ingested more plastic showed more scarring, helping the team characterize the new disease.
Over time, the lingering inflammation causes tissues to become scarred and deformed, with the knock-on effects of problems with digestion, growth and survival.
The disease can lead to the gradual breakdown of tubular glands in the stomach.
The loss of these glands can make the birds more vulnerable to infections and parasites and affect their ability to digest food and absorb certain vitamins.
The researchers found that other inorganic objects in the birds’ guts, such as pumice, do not contribute to such scarring.
Birds eat stones to grind food further back into the second part of their stomach, the gizzard.
The authors said the disease is a form of fibrosis — which causes fibrous scarring in the stomach — in a similar way to asbestosis, caused by asbestos, and silicosis, caused by silica dust that affects the lungs.
Over time, the lingering inflammation causes tissues to become scarred and deformed, with the knock-on effects of problems with digestion, growth and survival.
Dr. Bond said: ‘This study is the first time that stomach tissue has been examined in this way and shows that plastic consumption can cause serious damage to the digestive system of these birds.’
While plasticosis is currently only known in one species of bird, the scale of plastic pollution means it could be much more widespread – with plastic known to affect some 1,200 marine species.
The Daily Mail has long highlighted the threats of plastic pollution with its Turn the Tide on Plastic campaign.
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