Nearly 50% of the sea turtles have regularly been swallowing plastic waste flowing into the oceans from household wastes, according to researchers at the University of Queensland. These turtles are under threat of extinction now.

The researchers stated that approximately 12 million of plastic has entered the oceans over the past couple of years and has been swallowed by the turtles. They added that the turtle species found around the coasts of Australia and North America, Southeast Asia, Southern Africa and Hawaii were more under threat in view of the volume of waste disposed.

"Australia and North America are lucky to host a number of turtle species, but we also therefore have a responsibility to look after our endangered wildlife," the University of Queensland researcher, Dr Qamar Schuyler, said.

The results of the present study were similar to the ones published last month by the CSIRO stating that 60% of seabird species swallowed the plastic waste material. The previous research estimated the number of affected species may grow up to 99% by 2050.

After seeing findings of the latest research, CSIRO research collaborator, Dr Chris Willcox, expressed concern over the threat to the seabird as well as sea turtles.

He said that the same problem could be found in other sea animal species if not addressed soon.

According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), a huge volume of plastic waste enters the oceans from littering o households, poor waste management and tourist inflow.