Covid-19-derived plastic debris contaminating marine ecosystem: Alert from a sea turtle.
Mar Pollut Bull
; 175: 113389, 2022 Feb.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1665263
ABSTRACT
On 10 August 2021, a face mask (14 cm × 9 cm) was found in the feces of a juvenile green turtle, by-caught alive in a set net off the northeast coast of Japan. Although sea turtles have been monitored in this region over the last 15 years (n = 76), face masks had never been found before the Covid-19 pandemic and this is the first detection. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy identified the mask as polypropylene. Estrogenic active benzotriazole-type UV stabilizers such as UV329 were detected in commercially available polypropylene face masks. Exposure of marine organisms ingesting plastics to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and physical injury are of concern. This study indicates that changes in human life in the pandemic are beginning to affect marine life. Precautionary actions including establishment of appropriate waste management of personal protective equipment and use of safe additives are urgently needed.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Turtles
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Mar Pollut Bull
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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