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How can plastic ingestion harm seabirds and other marine animals?
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plastic pollution
A volunteer collecting plastic nurdles (pellets less than 0.2 inch [0.5 centimeter] in diameter) at Barreiras Beach, Corrubedo, Spain.
Plastic ingestion poses a severe threat to seabirds and other marine animals, as they often mistake plastic debris for food. This behavior leads to several harmful consequences:12
- Physical Harm and Blockages: Ingested plastics are indigestible and nonnutritive. They can cause intestinal blockages, which may be fatal. Furthermore, the risk of mortality increases with the volume and type of plastic consumed; even small amounts of hard plastic or rubber can significantly threaten a seabird's survival.1
- Reduced Energy Intake: Because animals may feel full after consuming plastic, they often eat less real food. This results in a lack of energy necessary to carry out essential life functions.2
- Chemical Toxicity: Plastics concentrate environmental pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), up to a million times their levels in surrounding seawater. Once ingested, these toxins can leach into the animal's tissues. Additionally, chemical additives used in plastic manufacturing—such as phthalates and bisphenol A—can cause neurological and reproductive toxicity, including endocrine system disruption.1324
- Bioaccumulation: As contaminated plastics move through food webs, these harmful substances can bioaccumulate in tissues and biomagnify at higher trophic levels as predators consume contaminated prey.1