Home Tech The sea turtle that swallowed a rubber witch’s finger: Heartbreaking images show the devastating impact of Earth’s plastic pollution

The sea turtle that swallowed a rubber witch’s finger: Heartbreaking images show the devastating impact of Earth’s plastic pollution

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Scientists who analyzed the guts of dead sea turtles in the Mediterranean discovered hundreds of plastic objects. This includes bottle caps, gum wrappers, and even a rubber Halloween toy featuring a witch's finger (pictured).
  • Scientists analyzed the guts of dead sea turtles in the Mediterranean
  • They found hundreds of plastic items, including a Halloween toy featuring a witch’s finger.

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Heartbreaking new images have highlighted the devastating impact of the Earth’s plastic pollution.

Scientists who analyzed the guts of dead sea turtles in the Mediterranean discovered hundreds of plastic objects.

This includes bottle caps, gum wrappers, and even a Halloween toy with a rubber witch finger.

“The journey of that Halloween toy – from a child’s costume to the inside of a sea turtle – is a fascinating insight into the life cycle of plastic,” said study lead author Dr. Emily Duncan of the University of Exeter.

“These turtles feed on gelatinous prey, such as jellyfish, and seafloor prey, such as crustaceans, and it’s easy to see how this object might have looked like a crab claw.”

Scientists who analyzed the guts of dead sea turtles in the Mediterranean discovered hundreds of plastic objects. This includes bottle caps, gum wrappers and even a rubber Halloween toy with a witch's finger (pictured).

Scientists who analyzed the guts of dead sea turtles in the Mediterranean discovered hundreds of plastic objects. This includes bottle caps, gum wrappers and even a rubber Halloween toy with a witch’s finger (pictured).

In the study, researchers examined 135 loggerhead turtles that had been dragged or killed as bycatch in fishing nets in northern Cyprus.

In the study, researchers examined 135 loggerhead turtles that had been dragged or killed as bycatch in fishing nets in northern Cyprus.

In the study, researchers examined 135 loggerhead turtles that had been dragged or killed as bycatch in fishing nets in northern Cyprus.

In the study, researchers examined 135 loggerhead turtles that had been dragged or killed as bycatch in fishing nets in northern Cyprus.

An analysis of its insides revealed that more than 40 percent contained large pieces of plastic, known as macroplastics.

In total, the study found 492 pieces of macroplastic, 67 of them in a single turtle.

“The plastics we found were largely in sheet form (62%), transparent (41%) or white (25%) and the most common polymers identified were polypropylene (37%) and polyethylene (35%),” he said. Dr. Duncan.

“Turtles likely ingest plastics that mostly look very similar to their food.”

In total, the study found 492 pieces of macroplastic in the turtles' guts, including a whopping 67 in one turtle.

In total, the study found 492 pieces of macroplastic in the turtles' guts, including a whopping 67 in one turtle.

In total, the study found 492 pieces of macroplastic in the turtles’ guts, including a whopping 67 in one turtle.

1710242482 238 The sea turtle that swallowed a rubber witchs finger Heartbreaking

1710242482 238 The sea turtle that swallowed a rubber witchs finger Heartbreaking

“The plastics we found were largely sheet (62%), transparent (41%) or white (25%) and the most common polymers identified were polypropylene (37%) and polyethylene (35%),” said Dr. Duncan.

The worrying thing is that researchers say they still don’t know all the impacts of macroplastics on turtle health.

“Negative effects could include blockages and limitation of nutrition,” Dr. Duncan added.

While the study highlights the devastating impact of the Earth’s plastic pollution on sea turtles, experts say more research is now needed.

“Much larger sample sizes will be needed for the loggerhead sea turtle to be an effective ‘bioindicator’ species,” said study co-author Professor Brendan Godley.

“We recommend that studies also include green turtles, which will allow for a more holistic picture.”

The news comes shortly after images revealed how hermit crabs are increasingly forced to live in our garbage.

While the study highlights the devastating impact of the Earth's plastic pollution on sea turtles, experts say more research is now needed.

While the study highlights the devastating impact of the Earth's plastic pollution on sea turtles, experts say more research is now needed.

While the study highlights the devastating impact of the Earth’s plastic pollution on sea turtles, experts say more research is now needed.

Experts from the University of Warsaw analyzed online photographs taken by wildlife enthusiasts and recorded 386 individuals using “artificial shells.”

It is not yet clear whether this new behavior is harmful to the creatures, which need “armor” to protect their soft abdomen.

Professor Marta Szulkin said: ‘In the photographs, we discovered a total of 386 individuals using ‘artificial shells’, mainly plastic caps, but also made from broken necks of glass bottles or metal ends of light bulbs.

‘According to our calculations, 10 of the 16 species of land hermit crabs in the world use this type of shelter.

“This unusual behavior is observed in all tropical regions of the Earth.”

DEEP SEA WASTE DATABASE REVEALS THE DEGREE OF OCEAN PLASTIC POLLUTION

Plastic pollution is a scourge that is devastating the surface of our planet. Now, the polluting polymer is sinking to the bottom of the ocean.

The deepest part of the ocean is in the Mariana Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean, east of the Mariana Islands. It extends almost 36,100 feet (11,000 meters) below the surface.

A plastic bag was found 10,898 meters (35,754 feet) below the surface in this region, the deepest piece of man-made pollution known in the world. This single-use piece of plastic was found deeper than 33 Eiffel Towers would reach, placed end to end.

While plastic pollution is decreasing rapidly, it is also spreading towards the center of the oceans. A piece of plastic was found more than 1,000 kilometers from the nearest coast, that is, more than the length of France.

The Global Oceanographic Data Center (Godac) of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Jamstec) was launched for public use in March 2017.

In this database there is data from 5,010 different dives. From all these different dives, 3,425 artificial remains were counted.

More than 33 percent of the waste was macroplastics, followed by metal (26 percent), rubber (1.8 percent), fishing gear (1.7 percent), glass (1.4 percent), fabric /paper/wood (1.3 percent). percent), and “other” anthropogenic items (35 percent).

It was also found that of all the waste found, 89 percent was designed for single-use purposes. It is defined as plastic bags, bottles and packages. The deeper the study, the greater the amount of plastic they found.

Of all man-made items found above 20,000 feet (6,000 meters), the proportions increased to 52 percent for macroplastic and 92 percent for single-use plastic.

The direct damage this caused to the ecosystem and environment is evident, as deep-sea organisms were observed in 17 percent of the plastic debris images taken by the study.

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