A disease of wild animals caused directly by the ingestion of plastic has been discovered: it is called '
plasticosis
' and is characterized by persistent inflammation of the digestive system, stomach alterations and reduced nutrient absorption.
The first cases, identified in some seabirds of the south-western Pacific, are described in the Journal of Hazardous Materials by a group of Australian researchers in collaboration with the Natural History Museum in London.
Experts describe plasticosis as a fibrotic disease due to the continuous irritation that ingested plastic fragments cause on the tissues of the digestive system.
The constant inflammation leads to the formation of scars that end up altering the anatomy and functionality of the tissues, causing knock-on effects such as less absorption of nutrients and reduced growth.
The researchers observed its deleterious effects in some specimens of flesh-footed shearwater (Ardenna carneipes): although these seabirds live more than 600 kilometers from the Australian coast, on Lord Howe Island, they are among the most contaminated in the world by plastic.
Scars have been found in their stomachs that make it less flexible and functional;
the loss of glands that produce substances necessary for digestion, absorption of vitamins and defense against infections and parasites has also been observed.
This can affect the growth of the young, even threatening their survival.
The name 'plasticosis' was chosen due to its affinity with other fibrotic diseases caused by the presence of inorganic materials, such as silicosis and asbestosis.
For the moment it has only been described in specimens of flesh-footed shearwater, but according to the researchers, plastic pollution is so widespread that the disease could also affect other animal species.
