COSMOS MAGAZINE
Seabird chicks that ingest even small amounts of plastic are suffering from hidden but severe health issues, including cell damage, organ failure, and cognitive decline, new research from the University of Tasmania has found.
Credit: Jack Rivers-Auty.
By analysing blood samples from seabird chicks, the researchers identified signs of damage in multiple organs, including the stomach, liver, and kidneys, as well as evidence of neurological decline.
Credit: Jack Rivers-Auty.
Credit: Jack Rivers-Auty.
One of the most striking findings was a nearly 50% decrease in a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in chicks with plastic ingestion.
Credit: Jack Rivers-Auty.
This study] highlights the potential for this research to be undertaken on other species, such as marine mammals, who are known to be at risk to high quantities of ingested plastic.
Lead author Alix de Jersey