Sea turtle: Sentinels and victims of plastic pollution in the Adriatic Sea
Published Date: 2/25/2021
Source: phys.org
Sea turtles are witnesses and victims of the high level of plastic pollution of the Adriatic Sea. A group of researchers at the University of Bologna analyzed 45 turtles hospitalized at Fondazione Cetacea in Riccione and found plastic debris in their feces. Besides confirming the role of turtles as ideal sentinels to monitor plastic pollution in the sea, the results of their analysis—published in the journal Frontiers of Marine Medicine—crucially show how the plastic debris in their intestines can dangerously alter their microbiota, eventually compromising their health.