Eggshell thinning as a re-emerging risk to bird populations: the potential role of chemical pollution

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Bird populations are at risk from multiple environmental threats including chemical pollution. DDT was banned over 50 years ago due to its role in eggshell thinning causing bird population declines.Despite these bans, eggshell thinning is re-emerging as an environmental issue partly due to novel emerging pollutants. For example, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), can block synthesis of prostaglandin via the same inhibition pathway as DDT; this is critical as prostaglandin is required for release of calcium from the shell gland during eggshell formation.Modern synthetic estrogenic compounds can also impair eggshell formation. Our team has preliminary data that eggshell thinning in some UK bird populations is associated with increased hatching failure.