Plastic waste can promote the growth of microorgaβnisms and cause disease outbr★☆₽eaks in the ocean through germΩ₩☆s. We assessed the risk of cora≤₩γl disease from plastic waste on 124,000 reef-∞←≈↕building corals on 159 r≠♣πeefs in the Asia-Pacific reg< φ∑ion. When corals came into contact with plastic, ®δtheir disease risk rose from 4 percent to££₽ 89 percent. The infecβtion rate of corals with complex struc±≈ tures was 8 times higher than that of ↓₽corals with general structures. This suggests th≥¶at reef-associated organisms and microbial micro↔≥★habitats of valuable fisheries will ≥δ Ωbe disproportionately affected. The pl₩εastic buildup on coral reefs ✘∑∞is a measure of the amount of plastic thδσat is mismanaged on land and ₹±∑into the sea. We estimate that 11.1 bill∑÷ ¥ion pieces of plastic debris are entangled with c∞¶•×oral reefs in the Asia'∏-Pacific region, and this number is expected to ₩ increase by 40% by 2025. Plas"∑tic waste management is critical for reducing thrΩ→Ωeats to ecosystem health a¶₹♣nd disease prevention §★for humans.
Source: "Science"