Ethan Clarke
Animals are increasingly consuming plastic, with over 200 species, including turtles, whales, seals, birds, and fish, documented to have ingested plastic. While it was initially believed that animals were consuming plastic because it resembled food, a recent study has revealed that the primary reason is likely due to the odor emitted by plastic. As plastic breaks down, it acquires a DMS signature, emitting a sulfur odor similar to that of krill, a primary food source for many seabirds. This odor triggers foraging behavior in animals, leading them to consume plastic. The consumption of plastic has harmful consequences for animals, as plastic cannot be broken down by stomach acid and can result in digestive issues, toxic chemical exposure, and health problems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for animals consuming plastic | It smells like food |
| Example of animals consuming plastic | Sea turtles, whales, seals, birds, and fish |
| How does it smell like food? | Algae break down and emit a sulfur odor known as dimethyl sulfide (DMS) |
| What is the effect of consuming plastic? | It can lead to digestive issues or other health problems |
| How much plastic is in the ocean? | A global analysis in 2014 measured ocean plastic at a quarter of a billion metric tons |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic's negative impact on animal and human health
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that poses a significant threat to both animal and human health. Animals, from marine creatures to birds, inadvertently consume plastic debris, mistaking it for food due to its resemblance and odour. This ingestion of plastic has detrimental physical consequences and exposes them to toxic chemicals, leading to inflammatory responses and behavioural changes. The impact of plastic pollution extends to humans as well, as we constantly inhale and ingest microplastic particles. The presence of microplastics in the human body has been linked to various health issues, including inflammatory bowel disease and respiratory complications.
Animals, especially marine organisms, are severely affected by plastic pollution. As plastic debris accumulates in oceans, more than 200 animal species, including turtles, whales, seals, birds, and fish, have been documented to consume plastic inadvertently. This consumption can lead to physical harm and expose them to toxic chemicals. The ingested plastic can cause inflammatory responses and even modify their behaviour. For example, sea turtles often mistake clear plastic bags for jellyfish, and fish gobble up rice-sized microplastics, confusing them for small particles of food.
The odour of plastic plays a crucial role in animals mistaking it for food. Algae, consumed by krill (a primary food source for seabirds), break down in the ocean and emit a sulfurous odour called dimethyl sulfide (DMS). Seabirds, in search of krill, are drawn towards this odour. Floating plastic debris provides an ideal surface for algae to thrive, releasing DMS and creating an "olfactory trap" that lures seabirds into consuming plastic.
The impact of plastic pollution on animal health is not limited to physical harm but also has broader ecological ramifications. It influences animal behaviour, population dynamics, and ecosystem processes. Additionally, there are concerns about the long-term health consequences of chronic exposure to microplastics, as they can adsorb and transport chemicals, leading to the bioaccumulation of pollutants within food webs. This has significant implications for humans as well, as these pollutants can enter the human food chain through animal sources.
Plastic pollution also directly affects human health. Microplastics, with a diameter of less than 5 mm, are pervasive in our environment, found in water, air, soil, and even various living organisms. Humans inhale and ingest these microplastic particles, leading to potential health risks. While the exact scale of this threat is still uncertain, recent studies have indicated a correlation between the presence of microplastics in the human body and various health issues, including inflammatory bowel disease and respiratory complications. Additionally, plastics increase disease risk by acting as a vessel for human pathogens, which have a strong binding affinity to plastic waste.
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Why animals eat plastic
Animals eat plastic for a variety of reasons, with one of the most prominent being that they mistake it for food. This can occur when plastic debris resembles an animal's regular food. For example, sea turtles often mistake clear plastic bags for jellyfish, and fish eat small pieces of plastic that resemble the particles they usually eat.
The smell of plastic can also be a factor, with some research indicating that the odour of plastic can make animals more likely to eat it. Algae, which is consumed by krill (a primary food source for seabirds), emits a sulfurous odour called dimethyl sulfide (DMS) as it breaks down. Floating plastic debris often has algae growing on it, and the DMS odour can attract seabirds, leading them into an "olfactory trap".
Additionally, some animals may eat plastic due to its physical characteristics such as colour, size, or shape. For example, birds can become entangled in plastic bags and, unable to fly, may die of starvation. In other cases, animals that feed by filtering water, such as baleen whales, mussels, and oysters, can easily consume microplastics (plastic pieces smaller than 5mm) along with their food.
Furthermore, plastic debris coated with food waste increases the likelihood of animals eating it. This can lead to severe health issues, including gastrointestinal blockages, infections, and reduced nutrition. Larger pieces of plastic can obstruct an animal's digestive tract, while smaller pieces may be ground into tiny fragments in the stomach and then scattered, as seen in the northern fulmar, which spreads millions of plastic pieces each year.
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Plastic's enticing look and smell
Animals, especially marine animals, are attracted to plastics because of their enticing appearance and scent. The issue of plastic waste has become a pressing concern, with the planet being inundated with discarded plastic that is detrimental to both animal and human health.
Plastic debris has been accumulating rapidly in the world's oceans, with a global analysis from 2014 measuring ocean plastic at a quarter of a billion metric tons, much of it in the form of small, rice-sized particles. More than 200 animal species have been documented consuming plastic, including turtles, whales, seals, birds, and fish. Seabirds are particularly vulnerable, with virtually all species known to have ingested plastic at some point.
The resemblance of plastic to food is a significant factor in animals' consumption of it. Sea turtles, for example, often mistake clear plastic bags for jellyfish, while other marine animals, such as fish, consume microplastics that resemble the small particles they typically eat. The breakdown of plastic into tiny pieces by sunlight and wave action contributes to this confusion.
However, recent studies have revealed that the sense of smell also plays a crucial role in attracting animals to plastic. Algae, which is consumed by krill (a primary food source for many seabirds), releases a sulfurous odor known as dimethyl sulfide (DMS) as it breaks down naturally in the ocean. Floating plastic debris provides an ideal surface for algae growth, and the emitted DMS odor lures seabirds seeking krill into an "olfactory trap." This discovery highlights the importance of understanding how odors influence animals' consumption of plastic.
While the exact reasons for animals' attraction to plastic are still being explored, the enticing appearance and smell of plastic undoubtedly play a significant role. These factors, combined with the ubiquitous presence of plastic in the environment, contribute to the ongoing issue of plastic ingestion by animals and the associated health risks.
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How plastic affects animal digestion
Animals often eat plastic because they cannot distinguish it from food. Marine animals, in particular, are highly susceptible to consuming plastic because it looks like food or smells like food. For example, sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, and fish bite at floating plastic because they think it is fish eggs. Seabirds are especially at risk, with virtually all having consumed plastic, according to a study by Australian scientists.
Once ingested, plastic can have severe consequences for animal digestion. Larger pieces of plastic can block the gastrointestinal tract, choke the animal, and reduce stomach storage volume. Plastic can also pierce internal organs and cause intestinal blockages, which can be fatal. As a result, animals that eat plastic suffer and often die. They eat less, obtain less energy, and weaken.
In addition to the physical harm caused by ingesting plastic, microplastics have also been shown to have toxic effects on animals. Exposure to microplastics can cause cognitive impairments and affect animal behavior. It can also lead to reproductive issues and developmental disorders in offspring. For example, a study on mice found that consuming plastic resulted in reduced body weight, higher neonatal mortality rates, metabolic imbalances, and altered intestinal microflora composition in the offspring.
Plastic pollution also affects animals indirectly by contaminating their food sources. Plastic debris coated with food waste increases the likelihood of animals eating plastic. Furthermore, plastic provides a platform for algae to thrive, emitting a sulfur odor that attracts seabirds looking for krill. As a result, plastic has entered the food chain through fish and other marine animals, ultimately ending up in the human digestive system when we consume seafood.
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The choking hazard of plastic
Plastic debris in the ocean poses a significant threat to marine life, with over 200 animal species documented to be consuming plastic, including turtles, whales, seals, birds, and fish. A report by Oceana, the world's largest ocean conservation organization, revealed that plastic has entangled, choked, and drowned over 1,500 endangered marine mammals in US waters alone. This issue is not limited to marine animals, as a separate study found that plastic toys designed for pets may also be harmful to their health.
Entanglement in plastic is another severe consequence, often involving bags, balloons, and plastic sheeting. This can result in malnutrition, drowning, choking, amputation, or infection. Even ingesting a single piece of plastic can prove deadly for some animals. Furthermore, the toxic ingredients in plastics, such as phthalates and bisphenol-A (BPA), can leach out and cause significant health issues, including carcinogenic and neurotoxic effects.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is not limited to physical hazards. A study published in Science Advances in 2020 revealed that the smell of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), emitted by algae growing on plastic debris, tricks seabirds into consuming plastic. As the algae break down, the sulfur odor leads the birds to their natural feeding grounds, creating an "olfactory trap." This explains why so many seabirds, fish, and other marine creatures gobble up plastic debris, mistaking it for food.
To address the choking hazard and other detrimental effects of plastic on animals, it is essential to reduce plastic pollution and offer plastic-free alternatives. Oceana recommends that companies provide consumers with reusable and refillable containers and packaging. Additionally, federal agencies should improve their reporting standards on animal interactions with plastics. By taking these steps, we can help mitigate the lethal consequences of plastic on animal populations.
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Frequently asked questions
It is not known if animals like the taste of plastic, but it is evident that they do consume it. Marine animals, in particular, ingest plastic because it resembles their food or smells like it.
Plastic debris in the ocean is often broken down into rice-sized particles due to sunlight and wave action. Marine animals like fish mistake these microplastics for the small particles they usually eat. Sea turtles, for instance, often mistake clear plastic bags for jellyfish.
Algae, which is consumed by krill (a primary food source for seabirds), emits a sulfur odor known as dimethyl sulfide (DMS) as it breaks down. This odor is also found in plastic debris, tricking seabirds into thinking they are near their feeding grounds.
