Findings from a recent study examining over 100 sea turtles of all seven species, across the Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean oceans, are rather disturbing.
Published in the journal Global Change Biology, the study was conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and Greenpeace Research Laboratories, a CNN article said.
Over 800 synthetic particles were discovered in the turtles. Researchers have warned that the actual number of particles is likely 20 times higher, considering only a component of each turtle’s gut was tested, the article says.
Animal autopsies, or necropsies, were performed on turtles that had either died from being stranded or by being caught, accidentally, by fishermen, and the study sites were located in Queensland, Australia, North Carolina, and Northern Cyprus.
Some of the sources of the particles found in the turtle’s stomachs were from ropes and fishing nets, clothing, tires, and cigarettes.
ontheedgeofeverything 