‘Plasticosis’: Characterising macro- and microplastic-associated fibrosis in seabird tissues

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 450, С. 131090 - 131090

Опубликована: Фев. 26, 2023

As biota are increasingly exposed to plastic pollution, there is a need closely examine the sub-lethal 'hidden' impacts of ingestion. This emerging field study has been limited model species in controlled laboratory settings, with little data available for wild, free-living organisms. Highly impacted by ingestion, Flesh-footed Shearwaters (Ardenna carneipes) thus an apt these environmentally relevant manner. A Masson's Trichrome stain was used document any evidence plastic-induced fibrosis, using collagen as marker scar tissue formation proventriculus (stomach) 30 Shearwater fledglings from Lord Howe Island, Australia. Plastic presence highly associated widespread and extensive changes to, even loss of, structure within mucosa submucosa. Additionally, despite naturally occurring indigestible items, such pumice, also being found gastrointestinal tract, this did not cause similar scarring. highlights unique pathological properties plastics raises concerns other Further, extent severity fibrosis documented gives support novel, fibrotic disease, which we define 'Plasticosis,'.

Язык: Английский

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The one-two punch of plastic exposure: Macro- and micro-plastics induce multi-organ damage in seabirds

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 442, С. 130117 - 130117

Опубликована: Окт. 2, 2022

Plastic pollution in the world's oceans is ubiquitous and increasing. The environment inundated with microplastics (< 1 mm), health effects of these less conspicuous pollutants poorly known. In addition, there now evidence that macroplastics can release form shedding or digestive fragmentation, meaning potential for macroplastic exposure to induce direct indirect pathology through microplastics. Therefore, an urgent need data from wild populations on relationship between macro- microplastic compounding pathological forms plastics. We investigated presence impact multiple tissues Flesh-footed Shearwaters Ardenna carneipes, a species ingests considerable quantities plastics, used histopathological techniques measure physiological responses inflammation All organs examined (kidney, spleen, proventriculus) had embedded particles this correlated exposure. Considerable tissue damage was recorded, including significant reduction tubular glands rugae proventriculus, inflammation, fibrosis, loss organ structures kidney spleen. This indicates directly at site exposure, while be mobilised throughout body causing widespread pathology. Collectively, results indicate scope severity impacts plastic may grossly underestimated.

Язык: Английский

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Cory's shearwater as a key bioindicator for monitoring floating plastics

Environment International, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 186, С. 108595 - 108595

Опубликована: Март 24, 2024

The potential of using organisms as bioindicators marine litter has been an area general interest in multiple scientific and monitoring programs across the globe. Procellariiformes seabirds are particularly vulnerable to plastic contamination, which makes them a research focus group. This study investigated ingestion deceased fledglings adults Cory's shearwaters (Calonectris borealis) collected over eight years (2015 2022) at two Atlantic archipelagos: Azores Canaries. Necropsies were carried out total 1,238 individuals showing high prevalence (90%), with approximately 80% items recovered from gizzard. Fledglings greater loads compared adults, yet morphologies similar between both age classes. temporal analyses conducted generalised additive mixed-effect models revealed distinct trend numbers, but not terms mass. In addition, spatial showed that Canary Islands ingest higher quantity proportion threadlike than Azorean animals. These results suggest contamination NW Africa foraging grounds next Canaries highlight fisheries source region. On other hand, information gathered birds suggests they would be able monitor changes composition floating North Subtropical Gyre. Overall, our outcomes support use shearwater victims light pollution key bioindicator contamination. For its policy application, presented threshold value combination assessment method will enable effective tracking framework MSFD OSPAR.

Язык: Английский

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Beached seabirds as plastic biomonitors in Brazil from the Beach Monitoring Project of the Santos Basin (PMP-BS)

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 199, С. 115847 - 115847

Опубликована: Янв. 4, 2024

Язык: Английский

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The challenges of opportunistic sampling when comparing prevalence of plastics in diving seabirds: A multi-species example from Norway

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 199, С. 116037 - 116037

Опубликована: Янв. 18, 2024

There is a need for baseline information about how much plastics are ingested by wildlife and potential negative consequences thereof. We analysed the frequency of occurrence (FO) >1 mm in stomachs five pursuit-diving seabird species collected opportunistically. Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) found emaciated on beaches SW Norway had highest FO (58.8 %), followed common guillemots (Uria aalge; 9.1 %) also beached either or SE Norway. No were detected razorbills (Alca torda), great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo), European shags (Gulosus aristotelis) taken as bycatch northern This first study to report plastic ingestion these Europe, it highlights both usefulness limitations opportunistic sampling. Small sample sizes, well an unbalanced design, complicated interpretation results.

Язык: Английский

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Regurgitated skua pellets containing the remains of South Atlantic seabirds can be used as biomonitors of small buoyant plastics at sea

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 203, С. 116400 - 116400

Опубликована: Май 1, 2024

Using seabirds as bioindicators of marine plastic pollution requires an understanding how the retained in each species compares with that found their environment. We show brown skua Catharacta antarctica regurgitated pellets can be used to characterise plastics four seabird taxa breeding central South Atlantic, even though might underrepresent smallest items prey. Fregetta storm petrels ingested more thread-like and white-faced Pelagodroma marina industrial than broad-billed prions Pachyptila vittata great shearwaters Ardenna gravis. Ingested composition (type, colour polymer) was similar floating region sampled a 200 μm net, but were better indicators size shearwaters. Given this information, containing remains track long-term changes plastics.

Язык: Английский

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Shorebirds ingest plastics too: what we know, what we do not know, and what we should do next

Environmental Reviews, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 30(4), С. 537 - 551

Опубликована: Май 10, 2022

Concerns about the impact of plastics pollution on environment have been growing since 1970s. Marine debris has reportedly entangled and (or) ingested by 914 marine species ranging from microinvertebrates to large mammals. Shorebirds a high potential be exposed ingest pollution, as many migrate long distances periodically concentrate around shorelines, coastal areas, estuaries that can elevated levels pollution. Currently, little is understood exposure, frequency occurrence (FO), impacts relating shorebirds. In this study, we catalogued reviewed available studies across globe examined in We then quantified relevant traits their environments explore how shorebirds may Of 1106 samples 26 shorebird described within 16 plastic ingestion, 53% individuals contained some form Overall, Haematopodidae (oystercatchers) had highest FO plastics, followed Recurvirostridae (avocets), Scolopacidae (sandpipers, phalaropes, godwits, curlews), Charadriidae (plovers). Plastics was much greater among migrated areas (either oceanic or coastal) than those used continental flyways. Species foraged at sea, mudflats, beaches higher average ingestion upland freshwater environments. Finally, sweeping foraging mode showed far number pieces all other techniques. These conclusions are based limited samples, with distribution skewed taxonomically geographically. Using combined knowledge known shorebirds–plastics interactions ecology, present hierarchical approach identifying more vulnerable susceptible ingestion. provide recommendations sampling protocols future research.

Язык: Английский

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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research on marine plastic pollution – A bibliometric-based assessment

Marine Policy, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 146, С. 105285 - 105285

Опубликована: Сен. 12, 2022

Язык: Английский

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New Methods for the Quantification of Ingested Nano- and Ultrafine Plastics in Seabirds

Environmental Science & Technology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 57(1), С. 310 - 320

Опубликована: Дек. 22, 2022

Plastic ingestion has been documented in a plethora of taxa. However, there is significant gap the detection nano- and ultrafine particles due to size limitations commonly used techniques. Using two Australian seabird species as case studies, flesh-footed shearwater (FFSH) Ardenna carneipes short-tailed (STSH) A. tenuirostris, we tested novel approach flow cytometry quantify ingested <70 μm fecal precursor (guano; colon cloacal contents) both species. This method provided first baseline data set for these plastics 200 nm–70 particle ranges detected mean 553.50 ± 91.21 350.70 52.08 (count/mg precursor, wet mass) STSH FFSH, respectively, whereas Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) accurate measurements polymer compositions quantities range above 5.5 × μm2. The abundance guano (count/mg) was not significantly different between (p-value = 0.051), suggesting that foraging distribution or prey items, but species, may contribute consumption small plastics. In addition, no correlation macroplastics stomach compared indicating are likely bioaccumulating (e.g., through shedding digestive fragmentation) and/or being directly ingested. Combining with FT-IR provides powerful quantitative qualitative analysis tool detecting orders magnitude smaller than currently explored wider applications across taxa marine environments.

Язык: Английский

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Weathering increases the acute toxicity of plastic pellets leachates to sea-urchin larvae—a case study with environmental samples

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Май 23, 2024

Abstract Microplastics, particles under 5 mm, pervade aquatic environments, notably in Tarragona’s coastal region (NE Iberian Peninsula), hosting a major plastic production complex. To investigate weathering and yellowness impact on pellets toxicity, sea-urchin embryo tests were conducted with from three locations—near the source at increasing distances. Strikingly, distant samples showed toxicity to invertebrate early stages, contrasting innocuous results near site. Follow-up experiments highlighted significance of yellowing elevated pellet more weathered colored exhibiting toxicity. This research underscores overlooked realm leachate marine organisms while proposes that prolonged exposure environment may lead Despite shedding light potential chemical sorption as source, further investigations are imperative comprehend weathering, yellowing, accumulation particles.

Язык: Английский

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