Microplastics ingestion and chemical pollutants in seabirds of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)

Plastic pollution constitutes an environmental problem in the Canary Islands nowadays. Nevertheless, studies evaluating the impact of plastics on its avifauna are still scarce. Gastrointestinal tracts of 88 birds belonging to 14 species were studied for the presence of plastics. Moreover, their livers were analyzed for the determination of bromodiphenyl ethers (BDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Among Cory's shearwaters (n = 45), the frequency of occurrence of plastic ingestion was considerably high (88.89 %). This species had the highest mean value of items (7.22 +/- 5.66) and most of them were compatible with lines derived from fishing gear. PCBs and PAHs were detected in all of the samples and OCPs in the great majority of them (98.86 %). Our results highlight the problems that plastic debris (mainly for seabirds) and organic pollutants pose to these species.

Automated summary

Plastic pollution is a current environmental problem in the Canary Islands. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating the impact of plastics on the local avifauna. In this study, the gastrointestinal tracts of 88 birds from 14 species were examined for plastic ingestion, and their livers were analyzed for the presence of various organic pollutants. The results reveal a high frequency of plastic ingestion in Cory's shearwaters, with most of the ingested items originating from fishing gear. Furthermore, the presence of organic pollutants such as PCBs, PAHs, and OCPs was detected in all or most of the samples. These findings highlight the threats posed by plastic debris and organic pollutants to seabirds in this region.