There is a shocking quantity of plastic in our oceans today — an approximated 2.6 million loads, according to one research study. But that amount of contamination can be tough to conceive without some sort of graph. And for that, we have the work of one U.K.–based bird researcher.
Alex Bond (@TheLaboratoryAndField) and his associates have been cataloging the contents of the stomachs of dead seabirds — generally flesh-footed shearwaters — on his Twitter account. And the quantity of plastic particles that a person bird consumes is amazing.
One of his pictures recently found its way to the r/Anticonsumption subreddit, where the other members of the forum were shocked and disgusted by the amount of plastic.
“This is scary and depressing,” wrote one commenter.
According to the Ocean Blue Project, seabirds will often eat bits of plastic that they have mistaken for food. This can lead directly to starvation, or, if the birds do survive, other health problems.
“The presence of plastic impacts the birds’ kidney function,” the ecological not-for-profit wrote. “This can cause higher concentrations of uric acid, as well as negatively impact their cholesterol and enzymes.”
Plastic contamination doesn’t simply effect birds, however all marine life. According to one recent research study, whales consume approximately 10 million pieces of microplastics each day, robbing them of the nutrients they count on to endure.
The just expect ocean life to endure is to tidy up the contamination that is already poisoning marine life while seriously reducing our continuous plastic production by developing laws that greatly disincentivize the significant polluters.
In the meantime, birds like this flesh-footed shearwaters will continue to be exterminated by plastic intake.
“This is so upsetting,” another commenter on the Reddit thread wrote.
“This is so, so, sad…” wrote another.
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