«Breaking News» Scientists examining 50 dead dolphins, seals and whales ALL had plastic in their system

Britain's seas are now so polluted with plastic that particles were found in the guts of all 50 dead mammals examined in a study.

Scientists analysed the bodies of dolphins, porpoises, seals and whales found washed up on our shores.

Microplastics less than 5mm in diameter were present in the digestive tracts of every single one. 

Most of the particles – 84 per cent – were synthetic fibres which can come from clothes, toothbrushes and fishing nets, with 60 per cent nylon and 10 per cent polyester. 

A study of dolphins, seals and whales washed up on British shores found plastic in the digestive system of every one. Scientists examined 50 animals from 10 different species that had died from a variety of causes

This seal was pictured surrounded by waste in Fife, Scotland, as scientists say aquatic mammals are increasingly at risk from plastic

The remainder had broken down from larger objects such as plastic bottles and food packaging.

The lead author of the study called the findings ‘shocking, but not surprising’.

Sarah Nelms, of the University of Exeter, said the number of particles in each animal ‘was relatively low – an average of 5.5 particles per animal’ suggesting they ‘eventually pass through the digestive system or are regurgitated’. 

However, she warned: ‘We don’t yet know what effects the microplastics, or the chemicals on and in them, might have on marine mammals. 

'The low number of microplastics in their gut at any one time doesn’t necessarily correlate to the chemical burden within their body because the exposure is chronic and cumulative.

‘It’s also not yet understood how synthetic particles physically interact with the gut wall as they pass through.’

Scientists fear bacteria, viruses and contaminants are carried on plastics into an animal’s guts, spreading disease.

In the study, on animals found from Cornwall to Scotland, the mammals had died from a variety of causes – but those that died due to infectious diseases had a slightly higher number of particles than those that died from accidents or natural causes.

Dr Penelope Lindeque, head of the marine plastics research group at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, said microplastics had been found in animals at every level of the food chain, from tiny zoo plankton to fish larvae, turtles, and now marine mammals. 

She added: ‘It’s disconcerting ... this study provides more evidence that we all need to help reduce the amount of plastic waste released to our seas and maintain clean, healthy and productive oceans for future generations.’

In total, 26 species of marine mammal are known to inhabit or pass through British waters. 

The ten species examined in the study included five types of dolphin, grey seals and harbour seals, harbour porpoises and a pygmy sperm whale.

Another seal was pictured earlier last month swimming in Brixham, Devon, as the extent of plastic waste in our seas continues to be revealed

 All of the species were found to have 'microplastic' particles, less than five millimetres across, in their stomachs and intestines. The findings shows how species in our oceans are unable to escape the threat of plastic in seas and the potentially profound effects it has on them

Species with a long life span such as dolphins and seals are good indicators of pollution levels in the sea, and as top predators they are susceptible to a build-up of plastics from the smaller creatures in their diet. 

Professor Brendan Godley, of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter, said: ‘Marine mammals are ideal sentinels of our impacts on the marine environment. Our findings are not good news.’

While numerous studies have shown the growing extent of larger plastic litter eaten by sea mammals, the latest study is the most comprehensive analysis of microplastics in their digestive tracts.

Worldwide around eight million tons of plastic rubbish is washed into the oceans every year. 

Microplastics come from a variety of sources, including the breakdown of larger debris, waste water containing fibres from synthetic clothes and textiles and road run-off containing fragments of tyres and paint. 

Their ingestion by sea creatures has been shown to cause a reduction in feeding and energy reserves, as well as damage to the brain and other organs.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, was supported by Greenpeace Research Laboratories.

HOW DO MICROPLASTICS GET INTO THE OCEANS FROM RIVERS?

Urban flooding is causing microplastics to be flushed into our oceans even faster than thought, according to scientists looking at pollution in rivers.

Waterways in Greater Manchester are now so heavily contaminated by microplastics that particles are found in every sample - including even the smallest streams.

This pollution is a major contributor to contamination in the oceans, researchers found as part of the first detailed catchment-wide study anywhere in the world.

This debris - including microbeads and microfibres - are toxic to ecosystems.

Scientists tested 40 sites around Manchester and found every waterway contained these small toxic particles.

Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic debris including microbeads, microfibres and plastic fragments.

It has long been known they enter river systems from multiple sources including industrial effluent, storm water drains and domestic wastewater.

However, although around 90 per cent of microplastic contamination in the oceans is thought to originate from land, not much is known about their movements.

Most rivers examined had around 517,000 plastic particles per square metre, according to researchers from the University of Manchester who carried out the detailed study.

Following a period of major flooding, the researchers re-sampled at all of the sites.

They found levels of contamination had fallen at the majority of them, and the flooding had removed about 70 per cent of the microplastics stored on the river beds.

This demonstrates that flood events can transfer large quantities of microplastics from urban river to the oceans.

Louise Edge, head of Greenpeace UK’s ocean plastics campaign, said: ‘It is ominous that every single marine mammal tested was found to have microplastics in their digestive system, and it shows the scale of plastic pollution in our seas. 

'This is yet more evidence that the Government and big businesses need to focus their efforts on drastically reducing the use and waste of plastics, to stem the flow of plastic pollution into our rivers and oceans and into the mouths of marine wildlife.’

A Sustainable Seas Report published by the Environment Audit Committee last month called on the Government to set stricter targets for reducing single-use plastic in the UK to help stop our oceans being used as a sewer.

A separate study last year by the University of Manchester found high levels of microplastics in Britain’s rivers and evidence that much of it is washed towards the sea during flooding.

The researchers tested river sediment at 40 sites across the city and surrounding areas and found microplastics in all of them. 

• Michael Gove last night launched the Year of Green Action, a drive to get more people involved in projects to improve the natural world.

Speaking at London Zoo, the Environment Secretary said £10million will be set aside to help design more outdoor activities for schools with children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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https://hienalouca.com/2019/02/01/scientists-examining-50-dead-dolphins-seals-and-whales-all-had-plastic-in-their-system/
Main photo article Britain’s seas are now so polluted with plastic that particles were found in the guts of all 50 dead mammals examined in a study.
Scientists analysed the bodies of dolphins, porpoises, seals and whales found washed up on our shores.
Microplastics less than 5mm in diameter were present in...

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