Study Says 90% of Seabirds Have Ingested Plastic

By Justin Worland September 2, 2015

Plastic has long posed a threat to the environment, but new research shows the impact of the material on one particular kind of wildlife may be larger than previously thought.

Brian Lawless—PA Wire/AP

According to a study published this week in the journal PNAS, 90% of seabirds around the world have ingested plastic. Researchers reached their conclusion after evaluating 186 seabird species across the globe. The areas where plastic pollution has had the greatest impact include southern parts of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Denise Hardesty, a researcher for an Australian federal agency, told the Associated Press that birds confuse small pieces of plastic for fish eggs, a mistake that has contributed to the high ingestion rates. “They think they’re getting a proper meal but they’re really getting a plastic meal,” she said.

...read more