With plastic use and its presence in the environment becoming more prevalent, it should not come as a surprise that a group of scientists has discovered a new disease in birds, which is caused completely by the consumption of plastic.
随着塑料的使用及其在环境中的存在变得越来越普遍，一组科学家在鸟类身上发现了一种完全由塑料消费引起的新疾病，这并不意外。
The study, published in the journal Hazardous Materials, aptly named the disease plasticosis. The characteristic feature of the disease is inflammation of the digestive tract in birds, which leads to scarring with increased plastic consumption.
这项研究发表在《危险材料》杂志上，恰当地将这种疾病命名为塑化病。这种疾病的特征是鸟类消化道炎症，随着塑料摄入量的增加，会导致疤痕。
Though the disease was discovered in sea birds, specifically flesh-footed shearwaters from Australia’s Lord Howe Island, the scientists posit that the disease is likely to be present in other birds and organisms.
虽然这种疾病是在海鸟身上发现的，特别是在澳大利亚豪勋爵岛的肉足鹱身上，但科学家们推测，这种疾病很可能存在于其他鸟类和生物体内。
In the study, scientists studied the relationship between the amount of plastic consumed and its effect on the proventriculus organ – the first part of a bird’s stomach, The Guardian reported.
据《卫报》报道，在这项研究中，科学家们研究了塑料摄入量与其对前胃器官(鸟类胃的第一部分)的影响之间的关系。
Incredibly, researchers found a linear relationship between the level of plastic ingested and the amount of scarring caused.
令人难以置信的是，研究人员发现摄入塑料的水平和造成的疤痕数量之间存在线性关系。
Plasticosis can cause a gradual breakdown of tubular glands in the proventriculus. The improper functioning of these glands makes the birds vulnerable to infection and parasites as well as affects their ability to digest food and absorb some vitamins, as per WioNews.
塑化症可引起前脑室管状腺的逐渐破坏。据WioNews报道，这些腺体的功能不正常使鸟类容易受到感染和寄生虫的影响，并影响它们消化食物和吸收一些维生素的能力。
When microplastics make their way into the birds’ digestive tract, it leads to inflammation. Persistent inflammation results in scarred and disfigured tissues that affect digestion, growth and survival.
当微塑料进入鸟类的消化道时，会导致炎症。持续的炎症会导致组织损伤和变形，影响消化、生长和存活。
“While these birds can look healthy on the outside, they’re not doing well on the inside. This study is the first time that stomach tissue has been investigated in this way and shows that plastic consumption can cause serious damage to these birds’ digestive system,” Dr. Alex Bond, principal curator in charge of birds at the Natural History Museum in London, said.
“虽然这些鸟外表看起来很健康，但它们身体已经受伤了。这项研究是首次以这种方式对胃组织进行调查，并表明塑料摄入会对这些鸟类的消化系统造成严重损害。”伦敦自然历史博物馆负责鸟类的首席馆长亚历克斯·邦德博士说。
Researchers believe that all organisms will be exposed to plastic eventually because of the increasing levels of plastic emissions and plastic pollution in all environments worldwide.
研究人员认为，由于全球所有环境中的塑料排放和塑料污染水平不断上升，所有生物最终都会接触到塑料。