Microplastics are a growing threat to our planet's wildlife, and scientists have now described a new disease directly linked to plastic waste.

The disease, known as plasticosis¹, has been identified in the digestive tracts of seabirds, such as flesh-footed shearwaters², which are among the most plastic-contaminated birds in the world.

Plasticosis occurs when tiny plastic fragments become lodged in the birds' digestive tracts, leading to chronic inflammation and scarring that can cause a range of problems³. Exposure to microplastics can inflame and scar the first chamber of the birds' stomach, which can stunt the glands that secrete digestive compounds, affecting their vitamin absorption and making them more vulnerable to infection and parasites⁴. In extreme cases, chicks can starve to death because their stomachs become full of undigestible plastic. For those that survive, plasticosis seems to stunt their growth, and larger amounts of plastic were associated with smaller overall weight and shorter wings⁵.

This disease is likely not limited to just these birds, and scientists believe that other species may be affected.

Marine life is particularly vulnerable to microplastic pollution. Plastic fragments have been detected in the digestive tracts of fish and other marine organisms, leading to concerns about the potential impact on their health and the wider ecosystem⁶. Studies have shown that microplastics can cause physical damage to marine organisms, leading to reduced feeding and reproduction, and even death in extreme cases⁷. Ingested plastic can also release toxic chemicals into the body, which can accumulate in the food chain and pose a risk to human health⁸.

Whales and seals are also vulnerable to the impact of microplastics. Researchers have found that these marine mammals ingest plastic particles while feeding, which can cause damage to their digestive systems and lead to malnutrition⁹. In some cases, plastic ingestion can lead to fatal obstructions or entanglement. In addition to the physical damage caused by plastic ingestion, microplastics can also release toxic chemicals that can accumulate in the bodies of these animals and cause harm¹⁰.

Farm animals are also at risk from microplastic pollution, as plastic waste can contaminate their feed and water sources. Recent research has shown that microplastics can accumulate in the organs of farm animals, raising concerns about the potential impact on animal health and the safety of our food supply¹¹. Ingested microplastics can also lead to reduced feed intake and weight gain in livestock, which can have economic implications for farmers¹².

Humans are not immune to the impact of microplastic pollution, either. Studies have shown that microplastics can be found in tap water, bottled water, and even seafood¹³. While the long-term health effects of microplastic ingestion in humans are not yet fully understood, there is growing concern about the potential impact on our health. In addition to the risk of ingesting toxic chemicals released by microplastics, there are also concerns about the potential impact on our gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in our overall health¹⁴.

The extent of the damage that microplastics cause is still being investigated, but one thing is clear: we need to take action to reduce our plastic waste and protect our planet's wildlife.

By working together and taking action to reduce our plastic waste, we can help prevent the spread of plasticosis and protect our planet's wildlife for generations to come. Take the pledge to fight plasticosis and take action for life on Earth!

More on this issue:

1. Chris Melore, StudyFinds (6 March 2023), "What is plasticosis? New disease has a direct link to ingesting pollution."
2. Rob Waugh, Yahoo! News (6 March 2023), "Seabirds are falling ill with a new disease from eating plastic and it could affect humans."
3. Helena Horton, The Guardian (3 March 2023), "New disease caused by plastics discovered in seabirds."
4. James Ashworth, Phys.org (3 March 2023), "Plasticosis: A new disease caused by plastic that is affecting seabirds."
5. Erica Cirino, Audubon (21 December 2018), "Plastic Threatens Even Our Common Shorebirds, Study Warns."
6. Subhankar Chatterjee and Shivika Sharma, Reinventing Plastics (2019), "Microplastics in our oceans and marine health."
7. Cinzia Corinaldesi, Sara Canensi, Antonio Dell’Anno, Michael Tangherlini, Iole Di Capua, Stefano Varrella, Trevor J. Willis, Carlo Cerrano & Roberto Danovaro, Communications Biology (30 March 2021), "Multiple impacts of microplastics can threaten marine habitat-forming species."
8. Dr. Sneha Kannan, iCliniq (25 February 2019), "Plastic Toxicity."
9. NOAA Marine Debris Program (6 March 2023), "Ingestion."
10. Leigh Shemitz, Paul Anastas, Yale Sustainability (1 December 2020), "Yale Experts Explain Microplastics."
11. Damian Carrington, The Guardian (8 July 2022), "Microplastics detected in meat, milk and blood of farm animals."
12. Karna Ramachandraiah, Kashif Ameer, Guihun Jiang, Geun-Pyo Hong, Science of The Total Environment (20 October 2022), "Micro- and nanoplastic contamination in livestock production: Entry pathways, potential effects and analytical challenges."
13. Inga V. Kirstein, Alessio Gomiero, Jes Vollertsen, Current Opinion in Toxicology (December 2021), "Microplastic pollution in drinking water."
14. Alba Tamargo, Natalia Molinero, Julián J. Reinosa, Victor Alcolea-Rodriguez, Raquel Portela, Miguel A. Bañares, Jose F. Fernández & M. Victoria Moreno-Arribas, Scientific Reports (11 January 2022), "PET microplastics affect human gut microbiota communities during simulated gastrointestinal digestion, first evidence of plausible polymer biodegradation during human digestion."