The results of the study were published in the journal Nature.
Over nearly two years — from February 2021 to November 2022 — biologists monitored mammal populations in three major ecosystems in South America. The subjects of the study were 26 lowland tapirs and 21 giant anteaters. To obtain an objective picture, the specialists combined laboratory blood tests with satellite tracking data. Using GPS beacons and specialized route-modeling algorithms, the scientists tracked the animals’ movements and assessed how often they approached built-up areas and landfill sites.
The analysis of the samples showed alarming statistics: polymer fragments smaller than five millimeters were present in the bloodstream of 43 out of 47 examined animals. In total, the experts recorded more than 2.8 thousand foreign particles. On average, there were about 73.8 particles per milliliter of blood, but in some animals this figure soared to a critical 1211.3 units.
Although microscopic plastic can travel vast distances through air and water, animals from areas untouched by humans proved significantly better protected from it.
Earlier, “ViZh” reported on an experiment that showed exactly where plastic settles in chickens’ bodies.
