New disease in wild bird species caused by plastic pollution, study finds

A recent study found that a new disease called plasticosis has been discovered in wild birds and is caused solely by plastic pollution.

The research published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials suggested that the disease is caused by small pieces of plastic that inflame the digestive tract, scarring tissue and making it difficult for birds to properly digest food and absorb vitamins. This ultimately affects their ability to survive.

Scientists from Australia and the UK noticed widespread scarring in flesh-footed shearwater birds on Australia's Lord Howe Island. They found that those who had eaten more plastic had more damage to the proventriculus organ, which is the first part of a bird's stomach.

Dr Alex Bond of the Natural History Museum, co-author of the study, said: “While these birds can look healthy on the outside, they're not doing well on the inside.

“This study is the first time that stomach tissue has been investigated in this way and shows that plastic consumption can cause serious damage to these birds' digestive system.”

According to the study, the fibrotic disease in question is defined by scarring to the tissue.

Researchers said birds that consume plastic experience a concerning process in which tiny shards become lodged in their digestive tracts.

The connective tissue rapidly replaces the parenchymal tissue, leading to permanent scarring.

Researchers suggest that birds and animals ingest higher amounts of plastic than humans. This newly discovered disease, called plasticosis, may even cause the breakdown of the tubular glands, leaving affected birds vulnerable to parasites and a compromised immune system.

They noted that other inorganic items found in the birds' guts, such as pumice stones, did not contribute to such scarring.

Although plasticosis has been identified in only one bird species, the researchers said that due to the scale of plastic pollution, it may be much more widespread.

An estimated 30 million tonnes of plastic waste are polluting the world's oceans, and 109 million tonnes are in rivers that will continue to leak into the sea for decades.

An Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report published last year revealed that plastic production had doubled worldwide in the past twenty years, with only 9 percent being recycled and 22 percent mismanaged and left to pollute the environment.

In response to the growing plastic pollution crisis, the UK government has announced plans to introduce a bottle-return scheme from 2025 and ban single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery and polystyrene containers from October.

It is estimated that five million tonnes of plastic are used annually in the UK, nearly half of which is packaging.

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