News in Brief Environment

Plastic pollution increases risk of devastating disease in corals

More than 11 billion pieces of the long-lived pollutant litter Asia-Pacific reefs

sick corals

DON’T DO IT  A plastic-based, polyester towel is caught on diseased corals, which have turned white. Known to harbor pathogenic bacteria, plastic is increasing the risk of disease at scores of reefs.

J. Lamb

By Dan Garisto

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