Plastic pollution affects American lobsters, Homarus americanus

Marta Potocka; Robert C Bayer; Mariusz Potocki

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.12.017

Plastic pollution affects American lobsters, Homarus americanus

Mar Pollut Bull. 2019 Jan:138:545-548. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.12.017. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Authors

Marta Potocka¹, Robert C Bayer², Mariusz Potocki³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Antarctic Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego St. 5a, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; Lobster Institute, University of Maine, 5722 Deering Hall 144, Orono, ME 04469, USA. Electronic address: mpotocka@ibb.waw.pl.
² Lobster Institute, University of Maine, 5722 Deering Hall 144, Orono, ME 04469, USA.
³ Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA; School of Earth and Climate Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA.

PMID: 30660305
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.12.017

Abstract

This paper provides the first record of ingestion of plastic debris by American lobster, Homarus americanus. Plastics particles, identified as rubber pieces, were found in the stomachs of 3 from 17 individuals of lobsters kept in laboratory conditions. Debris had evidence of cuts, what suggest they were actively consumed.

Keywords: American lobster; Homarus americanus; Ingested plastics; Plastic pollution.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bays
Dietary Exposure / adverse effects
Gastrointestinal Contents*
Maine
Nephropidae / drug effects*
Plastics / analysis*
Plastics / toxicity
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity

Substances

Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical