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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
In Vivo Accumulation of Plastic-Derived Chemicals into Seabird Tissues
Current Biology, Volume 30, No. 4, Year 2020
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Description
Plastic debris is ubiquitous and increasing in the marine environment [1]. A wide range of marine organisms ingest plastic, and its impacts are of growing concern [2]. Seabirds are particularly susceptible to plastic pollution because of high rates of ingestion [3]. Because marine plastics contain an array of hazardous compounds, the chemical impacts of ingestion are concerning. Several studies on wild seabirds suggested accumulation of plastic-derived chemicals in seabird tissues [4–7]. However, to date, the evidence has all been indirect [4–7], and it is unclear whether plastic debris is the source of these pollutants. To obtain direct evidence for the transfer and accumulation of plastic additives in the tissues of seabirds, we conducted an in vivo plastic feeding experiment. Environmentally relevant exposure of plastics compounded with one flame retardant and four ultraviolet stabilizers to streaked shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas) chicks in semi-field conditions resulted in the accumulation of the additives in liver and adipose fat of 91 to 120,000 times the rate from the natural diet. Additional monitoring of six seabird species detected these chemical additives only in those species with high plastic ingestion rates, suggesting that plastic debris can be a major pathway of chemical pollutants into seabirds. These findings provide direct evidence of seabird exposure to plastic additives and emphasize the role of marine debris ingestion as a source of chemical pollution in marine organisms. Tanaka et al. show that feeding additive-laced plastic pellets to seabirds results in the accumulation of chemical additives in liver and adipose tissue at 101–105 times above baseline. These findings demonstrate seabird exposure to plastic additives and additives’ importance as emerging pollution sources. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd
Authors & Co-Authors
Watanuki, Yutaka
Japan, Sapporo
Hokkaido University
Takada, Hideshige
Japan, Fuchu
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Ishizuka, Mayumi
Japan, Sapporo
Hokkaido University
Yamashita, Rei
Japan, Fuchu
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Mizukawa, Kaoruko
Japan, Fuchu
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Mizukawa, Hazuki
Japan, Sapporo
Hokkaido University
Ikenaka, Yoshinori
Japan, Sapporo
Hokkaido University
Nakayama, Shouta M.
Japan, Sapporo
Hokkaido University
Statistics
Citations: 70
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.cub.2019.12.037
ISSN:
09609822
Research Areas
Environmental
Study Approach
Quantitative