Article source: Ocean and Wetland public account
Original link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/VhS85XMf3W0hCjM6snA98Q
"Plastic disease" is a fibrotic disease that is not caused by viruses or bacteria, but by small pieces of plastic that inflame the digestive tract. Over time, ongoing inflammation causes tissues to become scarred and deformed, with knock-on effects on growth, digestion, and survival. These conditions are caused by excessive scarring left when a part of the body is repeatedly inflamed and prevents the wound from healing properly. Generally, temporary scar tissue forms after injury, which helps to strengthen repair. But when inflammation occurs again and again, too much scar tissue is formed, which reduces the flexibility of the tissue and leads to a change in its structure, that is, fibrosis.
(Source: DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131090)
Recently, the results of a study on seabird "plastic disease" led by the Australian Museum of Natural History were published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials (2023). The researchers found "plastic disease" on Lord Howe Island in New South Wales, Australia, which is widespread in seabird populations as part of their study. The study has been going on for up to a decade. The island is 600 kilometres off the coast of Australia, but the team previously found that Ardenna carneipes, the world's most plastic-contaminated birds, mistake plastic for food.
Key findings:
- Extensive scar tissue formation in seabirds is associated with plastic exposure to seabird habitats;
- Plastic disease significantly alters the collagen content in the structure of gastric tissue;
- Pathology is caused directly by plastic, rather than natural items such as pumice stones;
- Plastic-related fibrosis in the stomach tissue of seabirds was recorded for the first time;
- Evidence constituting a new plastic-induced fibrotic disease "plastic disease".
As biota become increasingly exposed to plastic pollution, sublethal plastic ingestion – an emerging area of research limited to model species in controlled laboratory settings, there is little data available on wild, free-living organisms.
Due to the high influence of plastic intake, researchers studied the effects of plastic ingestion in Ardenna carneipes in Lord Howe Island. Scars caused by plasticization affect the physical structure of the forestomach. As plastic exposure increases, the tissue gradually becomes more swollen until it begins to rupture. Tubular glands that secrete digestive compounds are probably the best example of the effects of plasticosis. When plastic is consumed, these glands progressively retard until they eventually lose their tissue structure completely at the highest exposure levels. Losing these glands makes birds more susceptible to infections and parasites and affects their ability to absorb certain vitamins. Scars can also cause the stomach to stiffen and become inflexible, reducing the efficiency of digesting food. The researchers found these particles in organs such as the spleen and kidneys of seabirds, and they are associated with inflammation, fibrosis, and complete loss of structure.
This is especially harmful for young birds and chicks, as their stomachs cannot hold the same amount of food. Some studies have found that as many as 90% of young birds are fed plastic by the mother bird. In extreme cases, this causes the birds to starve to death because their stomachs are stuffed with indigestible plastic. Plastic disease is likely to be one of the factors that affect how plastic affects young hair growth. The study found that the length of the wings correlated with the amount of plastic in their bodies, and the number of plastic sheets correlated with the total weight of the bird.
(Source: The pale-footed shearwater is one of the world's most plastic-polluting species.) Credit: Imogen Warren/Shutterstock)
(Plastic found in the stomach of a pale-footed shearwater.) Photo by Dr Alex Bond)
As plastic emissions continue to grow and plastic pollution becomes more prevalent in all environments around the world, all biological exposure to plastics is likely to be inevitable. In addition, ingesting plastic can have far-reaching and serious consequences. The scar tissue formation documented in the study is extensive, possibly chronic, and leads to potentially irreversible changes in tissue structure and function. Due to the potential impact of plastic on wildlife and human health, the findings highlight the urgent need to continue to improve our understanding of the sublethal effects of this different pollutant.
Reference sources:
1. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131090
2.https://phys.org/news/2023-03-plasticosis-disease-plastic-affecting-seabirds.html
3.https://phys.org/news/2019-07-seabirds-cholesterol-plastic-ingestion.html
Translated by Daisy Review: YJ Ed.: Lao Xia
#Australia##Seabird##Plastic##海洋 #