A group of Australian scientists who previously analyzed scientific literature on nearly 135 seabird species has said eating plastic floating on the surface of the water including bags and bottle caps has become very common among seabirds.

Study lead author Chris Wilcox of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization said in a release that the estimated amount is quite huge and points to the ubiquity of pollution caused due to plastic lingering in water bodies.

As per the studies published between 1962 and 2012, about 60% of 135 bird species had ingested plastic and an average 29 % of individual birds had plastic fragments in their guts.

"Standardizing the data for time and species, we estimate the ingestion rate would reach 90 percent of individuals if these studies were conducted today", the authors wrote.

The Australian researchers also predicted that by 2050, nearly 99% of seabird species will be affected by plastic ingestion, a problem that will get worse as plastic production increases.

According to them, the production of plastic globally is increasing at a tremendous rate, with a current doubling time of 11 years. They said that between 2015 and 2026, we will make as much plastic as has been made since production began.

The area which has been affected the most includes the area around the Southern Ocean boundary with the Tasman Sea, a stretch of water between New Zealand and Australia.

The authors noted that places where high plastic concentration and high seabird diversity coincide are most vulnerable.

The plastic which is consumed by the seabirds enter into oceans from urban rivers and sewers. Birds mistake plastic for food or eat these items by accident. Eating plastic, especially larger items can be dangerous, even deadly, for these seabirds, they said.