March 11, 2008 Home chemicals hurt Maine’s bird population Play video

(NECN: Augusta, Maine) - Scientists briefed Maine lawmakers Tuesday about a new generation of chemicals that is showing up in many bird species.

NECN’s Amy Sinclair has more.

Script:

Every nesting season, Piping Plovers struggle to protect their fragile eggs from predators and vandals. Now, according to a new study from the Biodiversity Research Institute, Maine’s birds have a new enemy to contend with - household chemicals...

“We found closer to developed areas the birds had higher contaminant levels."

In 2007, researchers tested eggs from 23 bird species in Maine for the presence of more than a hundred known toxins

Wing: "What I was surprised by, was that all 23 species had the contaminants we were looking for in them."

In other words, every single bird egg, from the Eagle's...to the Loons, contained traces of chemicals..such as flame-retardants, carpet-stain repellants, mercury, and pesticides.

Wing: "They're coming from products in our homes, flame-retardants are in computers, TVs mattresses."

The study didn't show any damage to birds, but the concern is a long-term impact - whether the chemicals combined could hurt the birds’ brains or reproductive systems..much like DDT did until it was banned in the early 1970s.

On Tuesday, the study's lead researcher shared findings with lawmakers on the natural resources committee who are considering legislation that would help Maine better monitor and

Ted: "We're very concerned about what chemicals are getting into our food chain what kinds of exposure our kids have and women of childbearing age have to chemicals."

Because Eagles aren't the only animals on top of the food chain, what's in them is almost certainly in us.

Matt: "I think it's another piece of evidence that says it's time to act now to get chemicals out of our wildlife, our environment and our bodies."

Like the Canary in a coal mine, all these birds are sounding the same call and at least in this committee room, the audience is listening..