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Items (plastic) removed from the gullet of a fledgling Laysan albatross

Explore the impact of toxins on wildlife due to human activities, focusing on case studies such as the decline of bald eagle populations and plastic pollution affecting albatrosses. Reflect on the dangers of chemicals like BPA and the balance between convenience and environmental safety.

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Items (plastic) removed from the gullet of a fledgling Laysan albatross

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  1. Today: Toxins in the Environment... W and F: Overpopulation (human) Movie tonight-7pm in Welch 1.308 Items (plastic) removed from the gullet of a fledgling Laysan albatross http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/08/31/plastic-litters-our.html

  2. Human impacts: Dead zone in Gulf of Mexico from Mississippi River http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/06/despite_promises_to_fix_it_the.html

  3. Published in 1962

  4. Resources move from producer to consumers,and so do toxins.

  5. Bald eagle populations decreased because of DDT and other toxins.

  6. The accumulation of toxins in the eagle causes “fragile egg syndrome”

  7. In the late 1700's there were an estimated 100,000 bald eagles in the continental U.S. By 1963 there were 417 nesting pairs.

  8. 1967-73 bald eagle listed as endangered 1972 DDT use banned in the U.S. 2007 bald eagle delisted http://www.fws.gov/midwest/eagle/population/chtofprs.html

  9. Even though the bald eagle is no longer listed as endangered, there are still problems...

  10. On Catalina Island, CA only about 18% of bald eagle eggs have hatched over the past 15 years, largely because of DDT contamination in the eggs. http://www.iws.org/bald_eagles/Incubation%20Facility.html

  11. Catalina Island egg hatching 2005- 3 of 9 fertile eggs 2006- 5 of 8 2007- 7 of 9 http://www.iws.org/bald_eagles/Incubation%20Facility.html

  12. Bald eagles in New York have been found with elevated mercury levels. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/science/25eagl.html

  13. We add thousands of chemicals to the environment each year...

  14. BPA is an estrogen mimic; it binds to estrogen receptors. BPA estrogen

  15. BPA • U.S. produces more than 2.3 billion pounds per year • Linked to health problems in animals and humans • Debate about amount that is safe and exposure

  16. BPA has been found in over 90% of urine samples in people around the world.

  17. What criteria should be used to determine the safety of a chemical? What should the balance be between convenience, economy, and safety? How should conflicting or controversial data be interpreted? Who should make these decisions?

  18. Today: Toxins in the Environment... W and F: Overpopulation (human) Movie tonight-7pm in Welch 1.308 Items (plastic) removed from the gullet of a fledgling Laysan albatross http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/08/31/plastic-litters-our.html

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