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

Funder	Natural Environment Research Council
Recipient Organization	University of Sheffield
Country	United Kingdom
Start Date	Sep 30, 2023
End Date	Jul 30, 2027
Duration	1,399 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Supervisor
Data Source	UKRI Gateway to Research
Grant ID	`2883058`

Grant Description

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.