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.
What is Plasticosis?
Plasticosis is a fibrotic disease caused by small pieces of plastic inflaming the digestive tract.
Over time, the lingering inflammation causes tissues to become scarred and deformed, with the knock-on effects of problems with digestion, growth and survival.
Other inorganic objects in the guts of the birds, such as pumice stone, do not contribute to such scarring.
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.
WHAT FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO ASSESS THE DISTRIBUTION AND IMPACT OF MICROPLASTICS?
The World Health Organization’s 2019 report ‘Microplastics in Drinking Water’ outlines numerous areas for future research that could shed light on how far the problem of microplastic pollution has spread, how it may affect human health and what can be done to prevent these particles from entering our water supplies.
How widespread are microplastics?
The following research should clarify the occurrence of microplastics in drinking water and fresh water sources:
- More data on the occurrence of microplastics in drinking water is needed to adequately assess human exposure via drinking water.
- Research into the occurrence of microplastics should use quality-assured methods to determine the number, shape, size and composition of the particles found. They must determine whether the microplastics originate from the freshwater environment or from the extraction, treatment, distribution or bottling of drinking water. Initially, this research should focus on drinking water that is considered to be most at risk of particulate contamination.
- Drinking water studies could usefully be complemented by better freshwater data to quantify freshwater inputs and identify key sources. This may require the development of reliable methods to track origins and identify sources.
- A set of standard methods is needed for sampling and analyzing microplastics in drinking water and fresh water.
- There is a significant knowledge gap in the understanding of nanoplastics in the aquatic environment. A first step to fill this gap is to develop standard methods for sampling and analyzing nanoplastics.
What are the health consequences of microplastics?
While water treatment can be effective in removing particulate matter, there is limited data specific to microplastics. To support the assessment and management of risks to human health, the following data gaps related to water treatment should be addressed:
- More research is needed to understand the fate of microplastics in different wastewater and drinking water treatment processes (such as clarification processes and oxidation) under different operational conditions, including optimal and sub-optimal operation and the influence of particle size, shape and chemical composition on removal efficiency.
- There is a need for a better understanding of the particle composition before and after water treatment, also in distribution systems. The role of the degradation and wear of microplastics in water treatment systems should be considered, as well as the contribution of microplastics from the processes themselves.
- More knowledge is needed to understand the presence and removal of nanoplastic particles in water and wastewater treatment processes once standard methods for nanoplastics become available.
- There is a need for a better understanding of the relationships between turbidity (and particle numbers) and microplastic concentrations during the treatment processes.
- Research is needed to understand the importance of the potential return of microplastics to the environment from sludge and other waste streams.
To better understand microplastic-associated biofilms and their significance, the following research could be conducted:
- Further research could be done on the factors influencing the composition and potential specificity of microplastic-associated biofilms.
- Research could also look at the factors that influence biofilm formation on plastic surfaces, including microplastics, and how these factors vary for different plastic materials, and which organisms are more likely to bind to plastic surfaces in freshwater systems.
- Research could be conducted to better understand the ability of microplastics to transport disease-causing bacteria downstream over longer distances, the rate of degradation in freshwater systems, and the relative quantity and transport capacity of microplastics compared to other particles.
- Research could examine the risk of horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes in microorganisms in the plastisphere compared to other biofilms, such as those in wastewater treatment plants.
Can water treatment prevent microplastics from entering our water supplies?
While water treatment can be effective in removing particulate matter, there is limited data specific to microplastics. To support the assessment and management of risks to human health, the following data gaps related to water treatment should be addressed:
- More research is needed to understand the fate of microplastics in different wastewater and drinking water treatment processes (such as clarification processes and oxidation) under different operational conditions, including optimal and sub-optimal operation and the influence of particle size, shape and chemical composition on removal efficiency.
- There is a need for a better understanding of the particle composition before and after water treatment, also in distribution systems. The role of the degradation and wear of microplastics in water treatment systems should be considered, as well as the contribution of microplastics from the processes themselves.
- More knowledge is needed to understand the presence and removal of nanoplastic particles in water and wastewater treatment processes once standard methods for nanoplastics become available.
- There is a need for a better understanding of the relationships between turbidity (and particle numbers) and microplastic concentrations during the treatment processes.
- Research is needed to understand the importance of the potential return of microplastics to the environment from sludge and other waste streams.
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