Toxicity of Plastics in Sea Turtles

I really enjoy swimming with sea turtles in Maui. Previously, I reported the recovery of sea turtles from fibropapillomatosis (FP). FP is a benign herpes-induced epithelial tumor growing on the skin. It kills turtles by interfering with homeostasis, particularly eating. Reducing the nitrogen oxide content of island run-off water has reduced the incidence of FP in Maui and other locations.

However, ingestion of plastic has become an even more deadly toxic agent than nitrogen oxides. A recent article by Ellen Singleton in CSIROscope reported on a study of 1000 dead sea turtles that washed ashore in Australia.

Based upon their data, Dr. Chris Wilcox of the CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere team concluded that the LD50 of plastic was 14 pieces. According to another team member, Dr. Kathy Townsend (University of the Sunshine Coast), “Some of the turtles we studied had eaten only one piece of plastic, which was enough to kill it. In one case, the gut was punctured, and in the other, the soft plastic clogged the gut.” Wilcox reported that ingestion of one piece increases the mortality risk to 22%. Further, the team estimates that 52% of the world’s sea turtles have ingested at least one piece of plastic.

This is just one more data point showing that plastic in the oceans is a serious new toxic agent that needs remediation.

Robert L. Stevenson, Ph.D., is Editor Emeritus, American Laboratory/Labcompare; e-mail: [email protected]

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