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Virus, plásticos y genes rebeldes: el cáncer en lobos marinos
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Researchers reviewed the causes of cancer in pinnipeds (sea lions, seals, and walruses), identifying three major contributing factors: contamination by pesticides and microplastics, oncogenic viruses such as otarineherpsvirus-1 and papillomavirus, and genetic inbreeding in declining populations.
Los lobos marinos, focas, morsas y elefantes marinos, conocidos como pinnípedos, son mamíferos marinos que hoy enfrentan una amenaza silenciosa: el cáncer. Esta enfermedad, que afecta sobre todo sus sistemas reproductivo y urinario, se ha convertido en una señal de alerta de lo que está pasando en los océanos. En este artículo se exploran tres causas principales que están detrás de su aparición: la contaminación por pesticidas y microplásticos, la presencia de virus como el otarinoherpesvirus-1 y el papilomavirus, y los problemas genéticos provocados por la reproducción entre animales emparentados, algo que ocurre cuando las poblaciones disminuyen. El objetivo de este texto es mostrar cómo nuestras acciones están dejando huella en la salud del mar y en la vida de sus especies. También propone soluciones urgentes, como reducir el uso de plásticos, fortalecer la conservación marina y fomentar la educación ambiental, para que estos animales pasen de ser víctimas silenciosas a señales vivas de recuperación en los océanos.
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Microplastics discovered in the body tissues of whales, dolphins and seals – sparking concerns for human health too
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Researchers found that relatively large microplastic particles can penetrate and accumulate in the body tissues of whales, dolphins, and seals, raising concerns about similar tissue-level accumulation pathways in humans who consume marine-origin food.
Submarine Landfills: The Siege of Plastic on Biodiversity
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This Spanish-language article describes how plastic pollution is accumulating in deep-sea biogenic habitats such as coral reefs, sponge aggregations, and seagrass meadows, threatening the biodiversity they support. It highlights that these ecosystems are particularly vulnerable because they are deep, out of sight, and home to non-charismatic species that attract less public concern.
Efectos de la contaminación por micro plásticos en los ecosistemas marinos
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Researchers conducted a systematic literature review on microplastic contamination in marine ecosystems, documenting ingestion by organisms from zooplankton to marine mammals, bioaccumulation of co-contaminants, and evaluating mitigation strategies, concluding that coordinated global action and circular economy transitions are urgently needed.
Impacto de la Contaminación Plástica en los Ecosistemas Marinos y su Panorama Actual
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This literature review synthesizes evidence on how microplastics cause digestive blockages, cellular damage, and reproductive alterations across marine trophic levels, and evaluates the limitations of current single-use plastic reduction policies in addressing the broader plastic pollution crisis.
Micropollutants in the Deep Sea: Influence of Feeding Mode on Microplastic Ingestion in Benthic Organisms and Detection of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Biological and Sediment Samples
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This Portuguese-language study examined micropollutant exposure including microplastics in deep-sea organisms from the Southern Atlantic, analyzing how feeding mode determines microplastic ingestion across different species. The research found that even the most remote marine habitats on Earth harbor plastic contamination detectable in deep-sea fauna.
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.