Plastic and debris in Arctic fox poo in Iceland

Curious Arctic fox in Hornstrandir, Iceland Recently, researchers associated with Wageningen Marine Research published an article in the scientific journal Polar Biology, where they discuss anthropogenic debris in Arctic fox faeces from Iceland. Samples from different decennia show that plastic has been ingested since the 1990's but that frequencies of such uptake are low. The aim of this study was to quantify the ingestion of man-made debris by analysing Arctic fox poo. In addition, the researchers wanted to know if analysing Arctic fox poo would be a suitable method for monitoring plastic pollution in the Arctic. Masters student Birte Technau from the University Centre of the Westfjords in Iceland collected the faecal samples together with researchers from the Icelandic Institute of Natural History. The analysis of the samples was conducted at Wageningen Marine Research and the results are now published in Polar Biology. Plastic pollution in the Arctic.