For many, the term “plastic pollution” conjures images of turtles ensnared in plastic rings or seabirds choked by bottle caps. But while much attention has rightly been focused on the oceans, new research reveals a concerning trend much closer to home — plastic is quietly infiltrating Britain’s land-based ecosystems.
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Growing evidence shows that plastics are not only present in marine environments, but increasingly found in the bodies of small mammals, insects, and embedded in our soil. Yet despite this mounting presence, scientists still know relatively little about how these pollutants move through terrestrial food webs, or the long-term effects they may be having on wildlife.
This pressing question formed the basis of my own research during a master’s degree project, which sought to uncover whether plastic pollution is affecting the UK’s wild mammals. The results were both surprising and troubling.
Together with fellow researchers, I collected and analysed faecal samples from a variety of small British mammals, including European hedgehogs, wood mice, field voles, and brown rats. Using a specialist machine capable of identifying plastic polymers through infrared light detection, we were able to screen for synthetic materials invisible to the naked eye.
What we discovered was striking. Of the 189 hedgehog samples tested, nearly one in five (19%) contained traces of plastic. One particular sample yielded as many as 12 strands of polyester fibres in shades of pink and clear — a vivid reminder of the scale and subtlety of the pollution problem.
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It is especially worrying considering the European hedgehog’s iconic status as Britain’s most beloved wild mammal. Despite widespread conservation efforts, the fact that these animals are ingesting synthetic material went previously undocumented.
While the source of these plastics is likely linked to household waste, synthetic clothing fibres, and fragments from degraded packaging, much remains unknown about how these particles are entering animal diets — or what harm they may be causing once inside.
This research underscores a growing need to shift our focus beyond the shoreline. Terrestrial ecosystems are no longer immune to plastic contamination. As we continue to investigate its pathways and impacts, it’s crucial that environmental policies adapt to reflect the full scope of the pollution problem — on land as well as sea.
