PHOTO: Rod Long/Unsplash
PHOTO: Rod Long/Unsplash

Microplastics almost universally found in marine mammals

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Peer-reviewed: This work was reviewed and scrutinised by relevant independent experts.

Researchers are consistently finding microplastics inside marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, and seals, according to a first-of-its-kind review of the scientific literature. Of the 30 studies reviewed, only one did not report finding microplastics inside one of these animals. Additionally, eight out of ten studies looking specifically at seals also reported finding differing amounts of microplastics in their faeces. The authors say the next step is to research the impact of microplastics on the health of marine mammals.

Journal/conference: Environmental Pollution

Link to research (DOI): 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116142

Organisation/s: University of Auckland

Funder: SN was financially supported by the European Commission project INDICIT II [11.0661/2018/794561/SUB/ENV.C2] and the University of Exeter Multidisciplinary Plastics Research Hub (ExeMPLaR) [EPSRC EP/S025529/1]. ELC was supported by a Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi Rutherford Discovery Fellowship.

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