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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Policy & Risk Sign in to save

Plastic ingestion by harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena in the Netherlands: Establishing a standardised method

AMBIO 2018 62 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 35 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Susanne Kühn, M.F. Leopold, M.F. Leopold, Susanne Kühn, J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker Susanne Kühn, J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, J.A. van Franeker Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, J.A. van Franeker Susanne Kühn, Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, M.F. Leopold, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, Susanne Kühn, Eileen Heße, J.A. van Franeker Eileen Heße, J.A. van Franeker Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker Susanne Kühn, J.A. van Franeker Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, J.A. van Franeker M.F. Leopold, Susanne Kühn, J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, J.A. van Franeker Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker Susanne Kühn, J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker Susanne Kühn, Susanne Kühn, M.F. Leopold, M.F. Leopold, M.F. Leopold, J.A. van Franeker Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, Lara Mielke, Eileen Heße, Susanne Kühn, J.A. van Franeker Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, Lara Mielke, Eileen Heße, J.A. van Franeker J.A. van Franeker Lara Mielke, Lara Mielke, J.A. van Franeker Susanne Kühn, J.A. van Franeker

Summary

Researchers examined the stomachs of over 650 harbour porpoises from the Netherlands and found that the rate of plastic ingestion was more than double (15% vs 7%) when a dedicated, standardized detection protocol was used compared to routine inspection. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most common plastic types found, and the litter appeared to be accidentally swallowed while the animals fed near the sea floor.

Stomach contents of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) collected in the Netherlands between 2003 and 2013 were inspected for the presence of plastic and other man-made litter. In 654 stomach samples the frequency of occurrence of plastic litter was 7% with less than 0.5% additional presence of non-synthetic man-made litter. However, we show that when a dedicated standard protocol for the detection of litter is followed, a considerably higher percentage (15% of 81 harbour porpoise stomachs from the period 2010-2013) contained plastic litter. Results thus strongly depended on methods used and time period considered. Occurrence of litter in the stomach was correlated to the presence of other non-food remains like stones, shells, bog-wood, etc., suggesting that litter was often ingested accidentally when the animals foraged close to the bottom. Most items were small and were not considered to have had a major health impact. No evident differences in ingestion were found between sexes or age groups, with the exception that neonates contained no litter. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most common plastic types encountered. Compared to earlier literature on the harbour porpoise and related species, our results suggest higher levels of ingestion of litter. This is largely due to the lack of dedicated protocols to investigate marine litter ingestion in previous studies. Still, the low frequency of ingestion, and minor number and mass of litter items found in harbour porpoises in the relatively polluted southern North Sea indicates that the species is not a strong candidate for annual monitoring of marine litter trends under the EU marine strategy framework directive. However, for longer-term comparisons and regional differences, with proper dedicated protocols applied, the harbour porpoise has specific use in quantifying litter presence in the, for that specific objective, poorly studied benthic marine habitat.

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