We’d like to mention, first of all, that the albatross is among the largest extant birds on earth. The images of the albatross on the Midway Atoll that had consumed entire film canisters are therefore mildly misleading; much plastic consumption occurs in much smaller doses. And the health issues that arise might not be so much the plastic itself creating a choking hazard, but what might be on it and what it might be releasing.
Take, for example, this study conducted in Japan in 2000, examining the relation between polypropylene (a plastic used for containing and interacting with biohazardous waste and strong chemicals) and high amounts of toxins found in marine wildlife. The pellets consumed are very small, only a couple millimetres big (that’s about as thick as the white part of your fingernail), but the additives within them release nonylphenols – non-biodegradable substances used in paints, pesticides, and laundry and dish detergents. The plastic pellets themselves have the ability to attract polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) from the seawater onto the plastic’s surface. [1] To get a better idea of what those are, PCBs are controlled substances that were so toxic, they were banned in the United States in 1976 under the Toxic Substances Control Act. [2] DDE is a product of degraded DDT, a pesticide that was responsible for putting many birds on the endangered species lists and was banned in agricultural use in 1972; according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, DDE might be deadlier than DDT. [3]
Or how about this study published in April 2014, which determined that even tiny amounts of ingested plastic can have debilitating effects on marine birds (flesh-footed shearwaters off the eastern coast of Australia), including perforating the stomach lining and contributing to malnutrition in fledgling birds. Metals and other molecules unsafe to consume in high quantities were once again found to have adhered to the plastic fragments and poisoned the birds. [4]
Every little bit really does help. Or, in this case, harm.
1. Mato, Y., et al. “Plastic Resin Pellets as a Transport Medium for Toxic Chemicals in the Marine Environment.” Environmental Science and Technology 35.2 (Jan. 2001): 318-324. Web.
2. Read more about the TSCA and PCBs here (Environmental Protection Agency): http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/pcbs/pubs/laws.htm
3. Read more about DDE here (ATSDR): http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp.asp?id=81&tid=20
4. Lavers, Jennifer, et al. “Plastic Ingestion by Flesh-Footed Shearwaters (Puffinus carnies): Implications for Fledgling Body Condition and the Accumulation of Plastic-Derived Chemicals.” Environmental Pollution 187 (Apr. 2014): 124-129. Web.
By: Brett Branco on September 9, 2014 at 2:29 am
This is a great contribution Kay. In fact, I had planned some class time to explore this topic. One compound associated with plastics that you did not mention is BPA. We’ll read about that later, but curious if you came across it in your research.
By: Renee Saff on September 11, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Kay-
I never realized that the plastics found inside of birds’ stomachs or in the oceans could have such dangerous effects on them (aside from clogging their guts and ripping the lining of their stomachs). Although I sympathize with the birds and agree that what they experience is harmful and unfair, I am more concerned about the effects this might have on our food chain. If toxins like PCB and DDE keep building up in our marine ecosystems, who’s to say that they won’t find their way into our everyday diets? And when they do find their way into our diets, what effect will that have on human health? http://www.clearwater.org/news/pcbhealth.html
Here is a link to a webpage that describes the human health effects of PCBs and offers more information about them. PCBs appear to be a probable carcinogen, cause developmental effects, disrupt hormone function, and have harmful effects on the immune system and thyroid. It is scary to think that our carelessness and neglectfulness with our use of plastics can have such potent side effects in the future.
By: kmccallum on September 12, 2014 at 2:38 am
Renee,
Thank goodness that PCBs and DDE production have been banned in the United States. Only products with preexisting PCBs and DDE (older products that predate the ban, or those that have different methods of disposal) are contributing to the buildup. The PCBs and DDE that was adhering to the plastic in the study had already been present in the marine ecosystem, due to disposal of plastics and waste before the bans. Generally, the ocean is vast enough that the amount of these toxins isn’t enough to pollute the water too badly; however, the ability for these plastics to conglomerate the toxins into one large dose, which is then ingested by the birds, is causing a dire issue. (And thankfully humans aren’t eating these marine birds!!)
But yeah, these toxins are terrifying. Thank you very much for sharing the article!