kenny
12-13-2006, 11:09 PM
Lead paint in new National Marine Monument poisoning albatross
By: American Bird Conservancy
Published: Dec 12, 2006 at 07:23
Lead poisoning is killing thousands of Laysan Albatrosses each year on Midway Atoll, part of the new Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument created by President George Bush this summer. Laysan Albatross, thousands of which are now building their nests on Midway, is globally listed as vulnerable to extinction by the World Conservation Union, and is a special trust species on the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the newly established National Monument.
"Laysan chicks raised in nests close to buildings left behind by the Navy are ingesting lead-based paint chips. This is causing shockingly high lead concentrations in their blood, leading to severe neurological disorders, and eventual death," said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy (ABC). "Federal funds are urgently needed to cleanup this toxic mess to protect the Laysan Albatross as well as future visitors to the new Marine National Monument."
Scientific studies have shown that Laysan Albatross chicks are eating lead-based paint chips peeling off of 95 aging buildings on the island, and that as many as 10,000 chicks, or five percent of hatched chicks, may be killed annually by exposure to lead-based paint. Many Laysan chicks that nest within approximately 15 feet of building structures exhibit a condition referred to as "droopwing" which commonly manifests itself in the chicks' inability to raise their wings, which drag on the ground resulting in broken bones and open sores.
Chicks with droopwing will never be able to fly, and will die of starvation or dehydration. Other chicks within close proximity to buildings that ingest paint chips also suffer detrimental effects from lead exposure. These chicks have blood lead concentrations that cause immunological, neurological, and renal impairments, significantly decreasing their chances of survival.
"This level of mortality in Laysan chicks hinders efforts to conserve this species and could have population-level impacts," said Jennifer Arnold, Director of American Bird Conservancy's Seabird Program. "Midway Atoll hosts the largest nesting colony for this species in the world, making this cleanup effort a top priority."
By: American Bird Conservancy
Published: Dec 12, 2006 at 07:23
Lead poisoning is killing thousands of Laysan Albatrosses each year on Midway Atoll, part of the new Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument created by President George Bush this summer. Laysan Albatross, thousands of which are now building their nests on Midway, is globally listed as vulnerable to extinction by the World Conservation Union, and is a special trust species on the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the newly established National Monument.
"Laysan chicks raised in nests close to buildings left behind by the Navy are ingesting lead-based paint chips. This is causing shockingly high lead concentrations in their blood, leading to severe neurological disorders, and eventual death," said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy (ABC). "Federal funds are urgently needed to cleanup this toxic mess to protect the Laysan Albatross as well as future visitors to the new Marine National Monument."
Scientific studies have shown that Laysan Albatross chicks are eating lead-based paint chips peeling off of 95 aging buildings on the island, and that as many as 10,000 chicks, or five percent of hatched chicks, may be killed annually by exposure to lead-based paint. Many Laysan chicks that nest within approximately 15 feet of building structures exhibit a condition referred to as "droopwing" which commonly manifests itself in the chicks' inability to raise their wings, which drag on the ground resulting in broken bones and open sores.
Chicks with droopwing will never be able to fly, and will die of starvation or dehydration. Other chicks within close proximity to buildings that ingest paint chips also suffer detrimental effects from lead exposure. These chicks have blood lead concentrations that cause immunological, neurological, and renal impairments, significantly decreasing their chances of survival.
"This level of mortality in Laysan chicks hinders efforts to conserve this species and could have population-level impacts," said Jennifer Arnold, Director of American Bird Conservancy's Seabird Program. "Midway Atoll hosts the largest nesting colony for this species in the world, making this cleanup effort a top priority."