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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Plastic and other anthropogenic debris in Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) faeces from Iceland
ClearAn assessment of microplastics in fecal samples from polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in Canada's North
Researchers assessed the potential for plastic ingestion in polar bears from Canada by analyzing fecal samples, first validating protocols to confirm reliable microplastic recovery from bear feces. Microplastics including films, foam, and fragments were detected in polar bear feces, providing the first evidence of plastic ingestion by this Arctic apex predator.
Passing plastic: traces of plastic in the fecal samples of a high Arctic seabird in Tunu (East Greenland)
Researchers non-lethally collected fecal samples from little auk seabirds in East Greenland and found microplastic particles in them, confirming that these Arctic birds are ingesting plastic and excreting some of it. The study is one of the first to document microplastic excretion in Arctic seabirds without killing them, suggesting fecal sampling could be a valuable non-invasive method for ongoing pollution monitoring.
A review on microplastics in mammalian feces: Monitoring techniques and associated challenges
Researchers reviewed how microplastics appear in the feces of humans, dogs, cats, and marine mammals, finding PET plastic to be the most common type across species. Analyzing feces offers a non-invasive way to track how much plastic organisms are ingesting, which could help guide environmental health policies.
Monitoring litter and microplastics in Arctic mammals and birds
This review evaluates approaches for monitoring litter and microplastic ingestion in Arctic mammals and birds, assessing both the strengths and limitations of using wildlife as pollution indicators. Researchers found that while some species provide useful data on spatial and temporal pollution trends, monitoring programs need to be carefully designed to account for species-specific feeding behaviors and habitats. The study emphasizes the importance of standardized methods for tracking plastic pollution's impacts on Arctic biodiversity and the communities that rely on these animals for food.
Evaluating exposure of northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus, to microplastic pollution through fecal analysis
Fecal samples from 44 northern fur seals across their eastern Pacific range were analyzed for microplastics, with plastic fragments found in 55% and fibers in 41% of scats, and a mean of 16.6 fragments/scat among positive samples. The study documents microplastic exposure in a marine mammal species consumed by humans, raising questions about potential exposure during subsistence harvesting.
Life starts with plastic: High occurrence of plastic pieces in fledglings of northern fulmars
Researchers found that 100% of northern fulmar fledglings examined from Svalbard in the Eurasian Arctic had ingested plastic, averaging 46 particles per bird. The most common plastics were white polyethylene fragments, with microplastics slightly outnumbering larger mesoplastics. The study suggests that fulmar fledglings may serve as effective indicators for monitoring plastic pollution trends over time.
Understanding the occurrence and fate of microplastics in coastal Arctic ecosystems: The case of surface waters, sediments and walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)
This holistic study examined microplastics in Arctic surface waters, sediments, and walrus tissues in coastal Svalbard, detecting plastics across all compartments and documenting for the first time microplastic occurrence in walrus gastrointestinal tracts.
Anthropogenic particles in coypu (Myocastor coypus; Mammalia, Rodentia)’ faeces: first evidence and considerations about their use as track for detecting microplastic pollution
Researchers found anthropogenic particles including microplastics in the faeces of coypu — a semi-aquatic rodent — providing the first evidence that freshwater mammals in non-marine habitats are ingesting plastic pollution, highlighting a previously underexplored exposure pathway.
Plastic in the pack: assessing microplastic risk to urban coyotes (Canis latrans) in the San Francisco Bay Area
Researchers found microplastics in scat samples from urban coyotes in North American cities, with a majority of sampled animals testing positive, suggesting that terrestrial carnivores living in human-modified landscapes routinely encounter and ingest plastic particles through contaminated prey and scavenging.
Terrestrial mammals of the Americas and their interactions with plastic waste
Researchers reviewed 46 studies on plastic ingestion by terrestrial mammals across the Americas, finding documented plastic consumption in 37 species but highlighting a major methodological gap — only one study used standardized plastic detection methods — and calling for species-specific protocols to properly assess the scale of plastic pollution impacts on land-based wildlife.
Microplastics in faeces of European shags Gulosus aristotelis in central Norway
Researchers analyzed microplastics in 36 fecal samples from European shag chicks in central Norway to quantify egested microplastics using a non-lethal sampling method. Microplastics were detected in the majority of samples, dominated by fibers, confirming that seabirds in Norwegian coastal waters are routinely ingesting plastic debris.
Investigating the Presence and Trophic Transfer of Microplastics in Ex- and In-Situ North American Otters Through Scat and Diet Analysis
Researchers analyzed scat from wild and captive sea otters and river otters in the North Pacific to detect microplastic ingestion and investigate trophic transfer through their prey. The study found evidence of microplastics in otter feces, confirming that these top predators are exposed to microplastics through their diet of fish and invertebrates.
Microplastic ingestion in zooplankton from the Fram Strait in the Arctic
Researchers found that all five zooplankton species examined in the Arctic Fram Strait had ingested microplastics, with polyester and polyamide fibers being the most common types, confirming widespread microplastic contamination at the base of the Arctic food web.
Microplastic pollution in the Arctic Ocean: Assessing ingestion and potential health effects in Calanus and Neocalanus copepods
This review assessed the extent of microplastic ingestion by Arctic marine organisms and evaluated the potential risks to both wildlife and human consumers of Arctic seafood. The authors found evidence of microplastic ingestion across multiple species and called for more research on long-term ecological impacts in polar environments.
Opportunistic detection of anthropogenic micro debris in harbor seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina) and gray seal (Halichoerus grypus atlantica) fecal samples from haul-outs in southeastern Massachusetts, USA.
This study opportunistically detected anthropogenic micro debris including cellophane and synthetic rubber in the fecal samples of harbor and gray seals in Massachusetts, finding plastic fragments in a small percentage of individuals. The findings confirm that these marine mammals are ingesting human-made debris, likely through contaminated prey, and suggest that seal fecal analysis is a practical monitoring approach.
Anthropogenic particles in sediment from an Arctic fjord
Researchers developed two sampling designs to collect sediment subsamples from an Arctic fjord in Svalbard, finding anthropogenic particles including microplastics and dyed fibres, and contributing to the limited data on plastic contamination levels in Arctic environments.
Garbage in guano? Microplastic debris found in faecal precursors of seabirds known to ingest plastics
Microplastics including fibers and fragments were detected in faecal precursors (pellets) from seabirds known to ingest plastics, providing non-lethal evidence of plastic ingestion that could be used in monitoring programs. The method offers a practical way to assess plastic ingestion in protected seabird species without requiring destructive sampling.
Microplastics in fecal samples of mammalian terrestrial wildlife in Hong Kong
Researchers assessed microplastic presence and abundance in fecal samples from mammalian wildlife in Hong Kong country parks, examining how animals living near human-modified habitats accumulate plastic particles. Microplastics were detected in wildlife feces, with types reflecting human-associated plastic waste from nearby populated areas.
Microplastic pellets in Arctic marine sediments: a common source or a common process?
Researchers examined microplastic pellet contamination in Arctic marine sediments to understand whether their presence reflects common sources or shared degradation processes. The study found that microplastics are accumulating on the Arctic seafloor, contributing to growing evidence that plastic pollution reaches even the most remote ocean environments.
Seabirds from the poles: microplastics pollution sentinels
Researchers reviewed four decades of studies on microplastic ingestion by seabirds in Arctic and Antarctic regions, covering at least 13 species. They found that polar seabirds regularly ingest microplastics, with polyethylene being the most common type detected. The study highlights that even some of the most remote ecosystems on Earth are not immune to plastic pollution.
Plastic ingestion by juvenile polar cod (Boreogadus saida) in the Arctic Ocean
Researchers examined the gastrointestinal contents of juvenile polar cod caught in the Arctic Ocean and found plastic fragments, demonstrating that even juvenile fish in remote Arctic waters are ingesting microplastics.
Assessing microplastic contamination in Icelandic soils: Insights from pristine, agricultural, and urban environments
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in Icelandic soils including pristine, agricultural, and urban sites to determine whether long-range atmospheric deposition reaches this sparsely populated island. Microplastics were detected across all site types, confirming atmospheric transport as a pathway to remote northern ecosystems.
Evaluation of meso- and microplastic ingestion by the northern fulmar through a non-lethal sampling method
Using a non-lethal stomach flushing method on Arctic fulmars at Svalbard, researchers found plastics in only three of 22 birds — much lower burdens than previously reported — but identified a key methodological limitation: the technique misses plastics accumulated in the gizzard where most plastic concentrates. The study is valuable for showing that repeated, non-lethal sampling of the same individuals over time is possible, which could improve long-term plastic ingestion monitoring in seabirds.
Estimation of plastic waste accumulation in the Arctic
Researchers analyzed sources, spatial distribution patterns, and mass transfer dynamics of plastic and microplastic pollution in the Arctic, proposing plastic waste management approaches and a community-based monitoring program to track microplastic accumulation across Arctic regions.