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Mortality of a juvenile Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus, Spheniscidae) associated with the ingestion of a PFF-2 protective mask during the Covid-19 pandemic
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Researchers reported the first documented case of a marine animal — a juvenile Magellanic penguin found dead on a Brazilian beach — killed by ingesting a discarded PFF-2 face mask, highlighting the underappreciated risk that COVID-19 macro-plastic waste poses to coastal wildlife beyond microplastic contamination.
We report the discovery of a dead Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) found on Juquehy Beach (23°46'S 45°44'W), municipality of São Sebastião, Brazil, on September 9th 2020. Following necropsy, we noted the presence of an adult size PFF-2 protective mask within the stomach of the penguin which we inferred as the cause of death. As far as we are aware, this is the first recorded instance of marine animal mortality by protective face mask ingestion. Whilst concerns have been raised relating microplastic contamination in marine environments from Covid-19 related waste, there has been relatively less attention paid to the potential risk of macro-scale contaminants, such as protective face coverings. We suggest that Covid-19 related macro contaminants be considered in coastal marine risk assessments and urge further research on this topic.
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Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.