Microplastics in marine mammals stranded around the British coast: ubiquitous but transitory?

ABSTRACT: Plastic pollution represents a pervasive and increasing threat to marine ecosystems worldwide and there is a need to better understand the extent to which microplastics (<5 mm) are ingested by high trophic-level taxa, such as marine mammals. Here, we perform a comprehensive assessment by examining whole digestive tracts of 50 individuals from 10 species whilst operating strict contamination controls. Microplastics were ubiquitous with particles detected in every animal examined. The relatively low number per animal (mean = 5.5) suggests these particles are transitory. Stomachs, however, were found to contain a greater number than intestines, indicating a potential site of temporary retention. The majority of particles were fibres (84%) while the remaining 16% was fragments. Particles were

SUBMITTER: Nelms SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6355900 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature