When plastic ends up in the ocean, it gives off a chemical that some types of birds often use to locate food. This might lead the birds to ingest harmful junk instead of a real meal. Researchers at the University of California, Davis let small beads of three common plastics linger off the coast of California. After a few weeks, the plastic accumulated grit, grime and bacteria that gave off an odiferous gas called dimethyl sulfide. Phytoplankton give off the same gas, and certain seabirds use the odor as a cue that dinner is nearby. Not only can birds be fooled by the false alarm, other marine animals that use the cue could also be fooled.
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