What is ‘plasticosis’ and how is it affecting seabirds?

Mar 27, 2023

When seabirds ingest plastic, it is scarring their digestive tracts and causing a phenomenon scientists are calling ‘plasticosis’. Image: Pexels/Asad Photo Maldives

Matthew Savoca

Postdoctoral researcher, Stanford University

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Plasticosis could be a sign that a new age of disease is upon us because of human overuse of plastics. Image: CC BY-ND.

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Plasticosis: These images show scarring (blue) in the stomachs of flesh-footed shearwaters, from least affected, at left, to most affected, at right. Image: CC BY.

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