Plastic pollution can build up in the bodies of seabirds, adding to the threats they face in the wild, according to a new study.
Researchers fed plastic pellets to nesting chicks to look at the direct effects of plastic exposure.
They found chemicals from plastic ended up in the birds' liver and fatty tissues at levels thousands of times higher than normal.
Monitoring of wild seabirds, including albatrosses, revealed similar findings.
With nearly half of the world's seabird species in decline, and 28% classed as globally threatened, chemical pollution is a "pervasive and growing threat", said the researchers.
The work was led by Shouta Nakayama from Hokkaido University, Japan.
Full article here
Researchers fed plastic pellets to nesting chicks to look at the direct effects of plastic exposure.
They found chemicals from plastic ended up in the birds' liver and fatty tissues at levels thousands of times higher than normal.
Monitoring of wild seabirds, including albatrosses, revealed similar findings.
With nearly half of the world's seabird species in decline, and 28% classed as globally threatened, chemical pollution is a "pervasive and growing threat", said the researchers.
The work was led by Shouta Nakayama from Hokkaido University, Japan.
Full article here