DDT Deja Vu? Osprey Eggs in Maine Show High Levels of Contaminants
Posted on Mar 9th, 2010 |
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Scientists at the BioDiversity Research Institute in Gorham, Maine, have found dangerous levels of industrial chemicals in the eggs of ospreys. Many of the eggs contained a high level of a stain repellent used for carpeting. The chemical is thought to leech from carpet waste materials into the water supply. Osprey then eat fish that have been contaminated with the compound. Other chemicals found in osprey eggs were flame retardants, water repellents, coolants, and pesticides. In all, 75 percent of the osprey eggs examined were found to have levels of contaminants that have been shown in laboratory studies to cause development problems in chicks.

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