Plastic pollution in our oceans is an ever-growing concern. It’s a problem that affects not just marine life but also the balance of entire ecosystems. Plastic ingestion by marine animals is a pervasive issue, with devastating consequences.\u00a0While we understand that plastic ingestion can lead to the death of individuals, the population-level effects on species have remained a mystery. Furthermore, most studies on the subject investigate the mortality rates caused by plastic pollution but do not account for the devastating metabolic and behavioural impact that plastic ingestion can have on surviving animals.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the mortal toll of plastic ingestion is undeniable, it’s not just about life and death. Recent research from the Adrift Lab reveals the chronic, long-term effects on marine animals that ingest plastic debris. These effects extend beyond mortality and manifest in ways that disrupt the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Plasticosis in seabirds. Charlton-Howard et al., 2023<\/p><\/div>\n
Ingesting plastic can lead to changes in behaviour, loss of body weight and decline in condition, reduced feeding rates, decreased reproductive capabilities, chemical imbalances in organisms’ bodies, and even alterations in gene expression. The Adrift Lab’s focus on flesh-footed shearwaters, seabirds nesting on Lord Howe Island, unveiled the sad reality of plastic’s impact. These birds displayed multiorgan damage as a result of ingesting both microplastic fragments and larger macroplastic particles. Of particular concern was the discovery of overproduction of scar tissue in the birds’ proventriculus\u2014the part of their stomach where chemical digestion takes place. This phenomenon has been termed “Plasticosis.”\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
The Adrift Lab’s research underscores the urgency of addressing plastic pollution with evidence that plastic ingestion is likely to cause negative population-level effects on species.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the University of Manchester, some researchers from the Manchester Environmental Research Institute (MERI) focus on plastics https:\/\/www.meri.manchester.ac.uk\/research\/expertise\/plastics\/<\/a>. Some groups work on ecotoxicology, exploring the impact of microplastics on animal life, while others work on solutions (e.g. chemical or biotechnological recycling).\u00a0<\/p>\n In the meantime, we all need to manage plastics more sustainably, reduce our consumption and recycle what we can (see 6R guide<\/a> and blog<\/a>). As citizens and consumers, we also need to demand better recycling infrastructure from our local authority (see blog: One bin to rule them all<\/a>) and sustainable alternatives to plastics or a better design encompassing full circularity from the industry.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Find out more<\/b><\/p>\n This mission to combat plastic pollution aligns profoundly with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).\u00a0<\/p>\n For the original source material and in-depth research, please refer to the Adrift Lab’s study: https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0304389423003722<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n To find out more about Environmental Sustainability in FBMH: visit the Faculty\u2019s\u00a0intranet page<\/a>,\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0or contact\u00a0srbmh@manchester.ac.uk<\/a>.You can also sign up to our Faculty ES Good Newsletter; please contact\u00a0srbmh@manchester.ac.uk<\/a>\u00a0to join our mailing list. For more information on Environmental Sustainability at the University watch this\u00a0short film<\/a>\u00a0or visit their\u00a0website<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=”3.0.106″ in_same_term=”off” show_prev=”on” show_next=”on” prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.0.106″ show_avatar=”on” show_reply=”on” show_count=”on” background_layout=”light” header_font_size_tablet=”51″ header_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_button=”on” button_icon_placement=”right” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_use_icon=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_layout=”light” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.0.106″ area=”sidebar-1″ orientation=”left” show_border=”off” background_layout=”light” locked=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Connect Title” module_class=”footer-section” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_color=”#1d1d1d” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” global_module=”380″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” global_parent=”380″ parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” module_id=”footer-row” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us Title” global_parent=”380″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us” global_parent=”380″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark”]<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Social Responsibility Public Engagement Digest<\/span>: https:\/\/www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk\/connect\/social-responsibility\/contact\/<\/a><\/p>\n The Faculty Website<\/span>: https:\/\/www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk\/connect\/social-responsibility\/public-patients\/<\/a><\/p>\nRelated<\/h1>\n
Related posts:<\/h3>
Kay's Blog #4 (operating in this virtual world)<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
Meet the team behind the Michael Smith Quad<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
Bamboo is Better!<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
Further information<\/span><\/h4>\n