New disease caused by plastics discovered in seabirds

The scientists studied flesh-footed shearwaters and found inflammation from plastic affected digestion, growth and survival. Photograph: Dpa Picture Alliance/Alamy

A new disease caused solely by plastics has been discovered in seabirds.

The birds identified as having the disease, named plasticosis, have scarred digestive tracts from ingesting waste, scientists at the Natural History Museum in London say.