Researchers have discovered “plucking,” a disease caused by the ingestion of waste by seabirds

It’s a discovery they would have done without. Researchers have identified cases of gastrointestinal fibrosis in seabirds caused by ingesting plastic, according to a study published Sunday, February 26 by the journal Nature. Hazardous Substances Journal (in English). “The extent and severity of fibrosis seen in this study is indicative of a new fibrosis disease caused by plastics, which we call ‘plastics’.”The authors are writing attached to research centers in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Unlike diseases caused by viruses or bacteria, exposed “plastics” is caused by small pieces of plastic that lead to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Over time, the stomach becomes lined with scars that do not absorb, and becomes deformed, with consequent consequences for the animal’s growth, digestive capabilities, and survival. London Museum of Natural History (in English)participating in the study conducted in Australia.

“On the outside, these birds may look good, but they don’t do so well on the inside.”warns one of the co-authors, Alex Bond, noting that this is the first time seabird stomach tissue has been subjected to such a study. At the moment, the subject of this research has been only one species, in this case the small, pale-legged shearwaters, which are notoriously highly susceptible to plastics.