By: Maegan Martinez
As a consequence of the approximately 300 million tons of plastic produced each year, our oceans’ most common debris is plastic. Hundreds of marine species suffer from plastic entanglement or post-ingestion mortality despite cleanup and conservation efforts. In a recent sea turtle study, this global issue is approached from a unique angle, concentrating on micronizing plastic instead of the largely focused visible plastic accumulation in oceans. It provides the first evidence of micronizing plastic formation which is theorized to form in post-hatchling and juvenile environment. In Florida, ninety-six stranded post-hatchlings were taken to a rehabilitation facility where about half recovered and were released. The gastrointestinal tracts of the deceased 52 hatchlings were used as samples to target mesoparticles using Raman spectroscopy. Results showed that of the observed microfibers, 44.6% were some kind of plastic. The ingested micronizing plastic ultimately resulted in nanoparticles which are easily absorbed by these hatchlings and distributed to oceans.
As a consequence of the approximately 300 million tons of plastic produced each year, our oceans’ most common debris is plastic. Hundreds of marine species suffer from plastic entanglement or post-ingestion mortality despite cleanup and conservation efforts. In a recent sea turtle study, this global issue is approached from a unique angle, concentrating on micronizing plastic instead of the largely focused visible plastic accumulation in oceans. It provides the first evidence of micronizing plastic formation which is theorized to form in post-hatchling and juvenile environment. In Florida, ninety-six stranded post-hatchlings were taken to a rehabilitation facility where about half recovered and were released. The gastrointestinal tracts of the deceased 52 hatchlings were used as samples to target mesoparticles using Raman spectroscopy. Results showed that of the observed microfibers, 44.6% were some kind of plastic. The ingested micronizing plastic ultimately resulted in nanoparticles which are easily absorbed by these hatchlings and distributed to oceans.
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Ingested micronizing plastic in stranded post-hatchling
sea turtle. Plastic excretion via cloaca (A) and sample
gastrointestinal tract (B). Micronized plastic in colon likely
to have caused sea turtle’s death (C). Plastic build-up in stomach likely
to have caused starvation (D).
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Because they serve as reservoirs for assaying plastic across a vast region, it is proposed that post-hatchling sea turtles be used as an indicator species for studying the micronizing plastic polluting the earth's oceans. Moreover, conservation groups often track their migratory behaviors; thus, it can help to monitor plastic accumulation tendencies in marine animals across our oceans. Doing so could pinpoint micronizing plastic present in specific habitats that puts many species in danger, and that area can then be prioritized for protection and conservation.
Reference
White, E.M., S.C. Clark, C.A. Manire, B. Crawford, S. Wang, J.
Locklin, and B.W. Ritchie. 2018. Ingested Micronizing Plastic Particle
Compositions and Size Distributions within Stranded Post-Hatchling Sea Turtles.
Environ. Sci. Technol. pp A-J.
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