A new made by the University of Texas (UTA) in the USA researchin the air germ He showed that pollution accumulated in the lungs of birds. Scientists report that this finding leads to concerns about the effects of people on the air and foods that people breathe.
Shane Dubay, a faculty member of the UTA Department of Biology and the research, announced that birds were chosen for research because of the fact that birds live in many different habitats and sharing the same environment with people. Dubay stated that birds are important indicators of environmental conditions and that this study is of great importance to understand the effects of microplastic pollution on nature and human health.
The research team gathered 56 wild birds of 51 different species from Tianfu International Airport, western China. Samples taken from the lungs of birds were examined by two different chemical analysis methods. First, the amount of microplastic in the lungs was determined by using laser directly infrared technology. Pyrolis gas chromatography-body spectrometer method was applied to detect smaller nanoplastic. These tests helped to determine the number and types of plastic particles in the lungs.
The research showed that birds had a high rate of germs in the lungs of birds. 221 plastic particles of all types of average and 416 particles were determined in each gram of lung tissue. The most common types of plastic were detected as the chlorine polyethylene used in pipe and cable insulation and the whole used in automobile tires.
Although a safe level of plastic particles in the air have not been identified, exposure to high microplastics is associated with serious health problems such as heart diseases, cancer, respiratory problems and reproductive disorders. Scientists conducting the research, the environment spreading plastic pollution not only for ecosystem health, but also a great threat to human health, he said. Prof. “Our research shows that more research, fund support and urgent action is needed to understand and prevent the negative effects of plastic pollution,” Dubay said.
Scientists say that more strict arrangements and environmental policies should be developed to reduce microplastic pollution, and that reducing plastic wastes and dissemination of recycling practices are critical steps against this problem.
(DHA)