Plastics suspect in lobster illness

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This drooping lobster is missing limbs and painted with dark spots the tell-tale signs of shell disease. Credit: Joseph CaputoMBL
This drooping lobster is missing limbs and painted with dark spots, the tell-tale signs of shell disease. Credit: Joseph Caputo/MBL
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The search for what causes a debilitating shell disease affecting lobsters from Long Island Sound to Maine has led one Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) visiting scientist to suspect environmental alkyphenols, formed primarily by the breakdown of hard transparent plastics.


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