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Plastic in Britain's seals, dolphins and whales
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_702052_en.htmlPlastic in Britain’s seals, dolphins and whales
Microplastics have been found in the guts of every marine mammal examined in a new study of animals washed up on Britain’s shores.
Researchers from the University of Exeter and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) examined 50 animals from 10 species of dolphins, seals and whales – and found microplastics (less than 5mm) in them all.
Most of the particles (84%) were synthetic fibres – which can come from sources including clothes, fishing nets and toothbrushes – while the rest were fragments, whose possible sources include food packaging and plastic bottles.
“It’s shocking – but not surprising – that every animal had ingested microplastics,” said lead author Sarah Nelms, of the University of Exeter and PML.
…
Microplastics have been found in the guts of every marine mammal examined in a new study of animals washed up on Britain’s shores.
Researchers from the University of Exeter and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) examined 50 animals from 10 species of dolphins, seals and whales – and found microplastics (less than 5mm) in them all.
Most of the particles (84%) were synthetic fibres – which can come from sources including clothes, fishing nets and toothbrushes – while the rest were fragments, whose possible sources include food packaging and plastic bottles.
“It’s shocking – but not surprising – that every animal had ingested microplastics,” said lead author Sarah Nelms, of the University of Exeter and PML.
…
