Poisoning

Posts Tagged ‘Poisoning’

Defra: Calls for crackdown after bird of prey poisoning maps are published

Posted by admin on February 13th, 2013

Maps showing where birds of prey have been poisoned should serve as a wake-up call, Environment Minister Richard Benyon said today.

The maps, published for the first time by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW), highlight both the number and location of confirmed poisonings of birds of prey from 2007 to 2011 across England and Wales.

Nineteen incidents of illegal poisonings occurred in 2011 bringing the total number of confirmed cases since 2007 to 101.

Environment Minister Richard Benyon said:

“I am appalled that these crimes continue to be committed and I am determined to stamp them out.

“Those responsible have no consideration for what they are killing or the impact their activities are having on wildlife and the wider environment.

“I want people to be alert to this problem and report their suspicions to the police. It is about time we put an end to this cruel and barbaric crime.”

The information published today also shows that the majority of poisonings were carried out using substances called Carbofuran, or aldicarb, which are illegal to possess in the UK and are potentially dangerous to humans.

Members of the public are warned not to touch any suspected poisoned animals or baits and to report them to their local police by calling 101.

Bob Elliot, the RSPB’s head of investigations, said:

“These maps are welcome as they illustrate the problem that our birds of prey face. We need to remember, however, that these dots represent the tip of a much bigger iceberg as these criminal offences are often discovered by pure chance.

“These aren’t just points on a map. Each dot represents a crime where a bird of prey has been killed in a calculated way. Birds of prey have suffered centuries of persecution, and these maps prove those attitudes still prevail today. We will continue to work in partnership to ensure that we all bear down on these unacceptable crimes.”

Glynn Evans, head of game and gamekeeping at the UK’s largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) said:

“The use of illegal poisons to kill birds of prey has no place in modern land and wildlife management. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation welcomes the publication of these incident maps which will be valuable tools in combating those who persist with this unacceptable practice.”

Wales’ Environment Minister, John Griffiths, said:

“I welcome the publication of these maps, which show the extent of this problem and focus attention on the illegal poisoning of birds of prey.

“The Welsh Government is working with a number of organisations to send the message loud and clear that the illegal poisoning of wildlife is not acceptable and the law will be enforced.”

The maps are available at www.defra.gov.uk/paw

Notes

These new charts show confirmed incidents of illegal poisoning . In 2011 there were 19 incidents, in which 30 birds of prey were poisoned.

The mapping project is an action supported by all members of the PAW England & Wales Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group which includes the Police, National Wildlife Crime Unit, BASC, Defra, the Moorland Association, Natural England, National Gamekeepers Organisation, Northern England Raptor Forum, RSPB and the Welsh Government.

info4local Subject Documents

Calls for crackdown after bird of prey poisoning maps are published

Posted by admin on February 12th, 2013

Maps showing where birds of prey have been poisoned should serve as a wake-up call, Environment Minister Richard Benyon said today.

Nineteen incidents of illegal poisonings occurred in 2011 bringing the total number of confirmed cases since 2007 to 101.

Environment Minister Richard Benyon said:

“I am appalled that these crimes continue to be committed and I am determined to stamp them out.

“Those responsible have no consideration for what they are killing or the impact their activities are having on wildlife and the wider environment.

“I want people to be alert to this problem and report their suspicions to the police. It is about time we put an end to this cruel and barbaric crime.”

Members of the public are warned not to touch any suspected poisoned animals or baits and to report them to their local police by calling 101.

Bob Elliot, the RSPB’s head of investigations, said:

Glynn Evans, head of game and gamekeeping at the UK’s largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) said:

Wales’ Environment Minister, John Griffiths, said:

“I welcome the publication of these maps, which show the extent of this problem and focus attention on the illegal poisoning of birds of prey.

“The Welsh Government is working with a number of organisations to send the message loud and clear that the illegal poisoning of wildlife is not acceptable and the law will be enforced.”

The maps are available at www.defra.gov.uk/paw

Notes

These new charts show confirmed incidents of illegal poisoning . In 2011 there were 19 incidents, in which 30 birds of prey were poisoned.

Defra News

EPA Environmental Justice Grant Will Help Train Syracuse Area Residents About How to Reduce Asthma Attacks and Protect Against Lead Poisoning (NY)

Posted by admin on December 28th, 2012

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded nearly $ 25,000 to the Onondaga Environmental Institute to train and certify central New York area residents to perform environmental jobs. Under the grant, the institute will also hold four community meetings to educate people about environmental hazards in the home, with an emphasis on lead and pollutants that trigger asthma attacks. Childhood lead poisoning is particularly a problem in low income neighborhoods in Syracuse.

Lead is a toxic metal that is especially dangerous to children because their growing bodies can absorb more of it than adults. Even at low levels of exposure, lead can result in I.Q. deficiencies, reading and learning disabilities, reduced attention spans, hyperactivity and other behavioral problems.

“EPA environmental justice grants provide much needed funds to tackle local pollution problems in low income communities,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “Lead poisoning remains one of the most prevalent threats to children’s health but it is also one of the most preventable. Increasing public awareness about lead paint and asthma triggers will protect health, particularly children’s health.”

It is estimated that three-quarters of U.S. residential dwellings built before 1978 contain some lead-based paint and 93 percent of housing in Syracuse is pre-1978. Using the EPA grant, the Onondaga Environmental Institute will work to reduce local lead poisoning levels and asthma hospitalization incidents by raising awareness and training residents on lead and asthma prevention practices.

The Onondaga Environmental Institute will also work with the L&M Training Center and State University of New York Education Opportunity Center to train and certify local residents in the skills needed for environmental jobs. The classes will instruct participants on occupational safety and health in construction work, EPA requirements on renovations, repairs and painting activities that disturb lead paint and the New York State Department of Health’s asbestos work safety requirements. After the free four-week training, certified workers will be connected with a local network that employs qualified workers.

Since 1994, EPA’s environmental justice small grants program has supported projects to address environmental justice issues in more than 1,300 communities. The grants represent EPA’s continued commitment to expand the conversation on environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across the nation.

2012 EJ Small Grant recipients and project descriptions: http://www.epa.govenvironmentaljustice/resources/publications/grants/ej-smgrants-recipients-2012.pdf.

More information about EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants program: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html.

Request for Proposals (RFP) for the FY 2013 Environmental Justice Small Grants and schedule of pre-application teleconference calls: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources/publications/grants/ej-smgrants-rfp-2013.pdf.

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U.S. EPA News

For Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, EPA Offers Two Free Webinars Oct. 25 on Hazards of Lead and Lead-based Paint (PA)

Posted by admin on October 19th, 2012

Release Date: 10/19/2012
Contact Information: Donna Heron, 215-814-5113 or [email protected]

PHILADELPHIA (October 19, 2012) – October 21-27 is Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host two free webinars – one for contractors and another for property owners – on the hazards of lead and lead-based paint.

Lead poisoning is the number one environmental health threat to children in the United States, ages six and younger. The most common source of lead exposure is through deteriorating lead-based paint in residences and commercial buildings built before 1978.

The theme of this year’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future, underscores the importance of the many ways parents can reduce a child’s exposure to lead to prevent serious health effects.

The webinars, to be held Oct. 25, 2012, are part of the agency’s on-going efforts to make families aware of the hazards presented by lead and lead-based paint in the home and places where children under six years of age are regularly present.

Webinar on Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule : 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

The first webinar, geared toward contractors and anyone paid to work on houses or facilities where young children are regularly present (such as daycare centers, schools, clinics, etc.), will focus on the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP). The RRP requires that contractors be certified in lead safe work practices and complete training from an EPA accredited training provider. The ultimate goal is to reduce lead contamination during renovation and construction work.

The rule applies when the renovation or repair disturbs six sq. ft. of interior (about the size of a standard poster) or 20 sq. ft (about the size of a standard door) of exterior painted surfaces. The RRP became effective on April 22, 2010. The rule does not apply to individuals doing work on their personal residences. However, EPA recommends that lead-safe work practices be used by individual homeowners whenever possible.

Webinar on Lead-based Paint Disclosure Rule: 1 – 2:30 p.m.

The second webinar, geared towards owners of residential rental properties and the sellers of residential property built before 1978, will focus on the Lead-based Paint Disclosure Rule. This rule requires the disclosure of known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before a lease or sale becomes effective. Sales contracts and leases must include a disclosure form about lead-based paint. Buyers have up to 10 days to check for lead hazards. Further, landlords and sellers must also provide the EPA publication Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home to tenants and buyers.

The long-term effects of lead exposure in children can be severe. They include learning disabilities, decreased growth, hyperactivity, impaired hearing and even brain damage. If caught early, these effects can be limited by reducing exposure to lead or through medical treatment. Children under 6 years of age are particularly at risk as pound per pound they eat more, drink more and breathe more air compared to adults. Pregnant women should avoid exposure to lead as the effects can be passed on to the child.

Recognizing that families have a right to know about lead-based paint and potential lead hazards in their homes, EPA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development developed the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule which has been in effect since 1996.

To register for either free webinar go to: http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/lead.htm#webinars

For more information on protecting your home and family from exposure to lead or to locate or to become a Certified Lead-Safe Firm go to: www.epa.gov/lead or call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323)

U.S. EPA News

MAR Systems Provides Solution to the Problem of Poisoning the Great Lakes

Posted by admin on June 15th, 2012

SOURCE: MAR Systems, Inc.

SOLON, OH–(Marketwire – Jun 14, 2012) – Technology developed and patented by MAR Systems, Inc., headquartered in Solon, Ohio, can solve the problem of mercury pollution from electrical generation facilities in the Great Lakes region.

A report released on June 6, 2012 from the Nation Resources Defense Council shows that the 25 worst coal-fired power plants account for more than half of the dangerous mercury pollution emitted by the 144 electrical generation facilities in the region. According to the report, Ohio is the region’s biggest offender.

MAR Systems’ Sorbster™ Media removes mercury, selenium, arsenic and other metals and trace contaminants from industrial wastewater streams.

“Sorbster Media is a proprietary, innovative technology that binds contamination to our product, creating a non-hazardous disposal option,” said Tony Lammers, President and CEO, MAR Systems. “We are able to quickly reduce contamination into the single digit parts-per-trillion, roughly a reduction level of 99 percent.”

The Environmental Protection Agency has recently issued new nationwide Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that require power plants to reduce mercury emissions by 90 percent, well within MAR Systems’ capabilities.

The technology rapidly removes contaminants — even at trace levels — through chemisorbtion, a process that irreversibly bonds the contaminants to the media, allowing for disposal in non-hazardous landfills.

“Mercury is a bio-accumulative. Once it’s in the environment, it gets into the water stream and settles into the dirt. Worms eat the dirt, fish eat the worms and we eat the fish. Before you know it, we all have way too much mercury in our systems,” said Lammers. “Sorbster Media completely removes mercury from the environment and eliminates the problem.”

Currently, MAR Systems‘ technology is addressing compliance concerns, legacy issues and complicated contamination issues for refineries, power plants, mining operations, oil and gas facilities, chemical manufacturers and municipalities.

“We’ve developed a program that can get industry into EPA compliance within six months,” said Lammers.

For more information about MAR Systems or its Sorbster Media, please visit www.MARSystemsInc.com

MAR Systems is a privately owned, Ohio-based company. Established in 2005, MAR Systems has developed patented, proprietary processes that remove mercury, selenium, arsenic and other metals and trace contaminants from industrial wastewater streams. Using its Sorbster Media, MAR Systems can demonstrate successful contaminant removal at substantially faster rates than are measured with current technologies. For more information about MAR Systems, visit www.MARSystemsInc.com.

Marketwire – Environment

What to Do in Case of Poisoning…

Posted by admin on March 24th, 2012

If someone may have been poisoned, call the toll-free Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222), which connects you to your local poison center, to speak with a poison expert right away. This expert can give you advice on first aid and may save you from a visit to the emergency room.

Below is a checklist to help you in the event of a poisoning.

First steps

If the person is not breathing, call 911.
If the person inhaled poison, get him or her fresh air right away.
If the person has poison on the skin, take off any clothing the poison touched. Rinse skin with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.
If the person has poison in the eyes, rinse eyes with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.
Do not use activated charcoal when you think someone may have been poisoned.

Calling Poison Help

Do not wait for signs of poisoning before calling Poison Help (1-800-222-1222), which connects you to your local poison center. Stay calm. Not all medicines, chemicals, or household products are poisonous. Not all contact with poison results in poisoning.
Make sure to have the container of the product you think caused the poisoning nearby. The label has important information.

Be ready (if you can) to tell the expert on the phone:

The exposed person’s age and weight
Known health conditions or problems
The product involved
How the product contacted the person (for example, by mouth, by inhaling, through the skin, or through the eyes)
How long ago the poison contacted the person
What first aid has already been given
Whether the person has vomited
Your exact location and how long it would take you to get to a hospital

USA.gov Updates: News and Features

100 Groups Ask EPA to End Wildlife Poisoning From Lead Hunting Ammunition

Posted by admin on March 14th, 2012

WASHINGTON— One hundred organizations in 35 states formally petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday to regulate toxic lead in hunting ammunition to protect public health and prevent the widespread poisoning of eagles, California condors and other wildlife. Up to 20 million birds die each year from lead poisoning after consuming spent lead shot and bullet fragments left in the wild from hunting.

“The unnecessary poisoning of eagles, condors and other wildlife is a national tragedy that the EPA can easily put an end to,” said Jeff Miller with the Center for Biological Diversity. “There are safe, available alternatives to lead ammo for all hunting and shooting sports, so there’s no reason for this poisoning to go on. Getting the lead out for wildlife is in line with traditional American conservation, hunting and fishing values.”

Today’s petition follows the EPA’s 2010 refusal to review a petition asking for a ban on lead bullets, shotgun pellets and fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act, and seeks federal rules requiring use of nontoxic bullets and shot for hunting and shooting sports. It was filed by groups representing conservationists, birders, hunters, zoologists, scientists, American Indians, wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians.

In the United States, 3,000 tons of lead are shot into the environment by hunters every year, while another 80,000 tons are released at shooting ranges. Birds and animals are poisoned when they scavenge on carcasses containing lead-bullet fragments or ingest spent lead-shot pellets, which can cover popular hunting grounds at high densities.

Spent lead from hunting is a widespread killer of bald and golden eagles, trumpeter swans, endangered California condors and more than 75 other species. Nearly 500 scientific papers have documented the dangers to wildlife from lead exposure.

“It’s encouraging to see so many groups unite to end lead poisoning of wildlife,” said Miller. “This isn’t about hunting — it’s about switching to nontoxic materials to stop preventable lead poisoning. Getting the lead out of hunting ammunition will reduce hunters’ lead exposure too, as well as the health risks to anyone eating shot game.”

There are many commercially available alternatives to lead rifle bullets, shotgun pellets, fishing weights and lures. More than a dozen manufacturers market hundreds of varieties and calibers of nonlead bullets and shot made of steel, copper and alloys of other metals, with satisfactory to superior ballistics. Nonlead bullets and fishing tackle are readily available in all 50 states. Hunters and anglers in states and areas that have lead restrictions or have already banned lead have made successful transitions to hunting with nontoxic bullets and fishing with nontoxic tackle.

“We wisely removed lead from gasoline and paint because of the dangers of lead poisoning, and now it’s time to do the same for hunting ammunition. Future generations will thank us,” Miller said.

Background

At least 75 wild bird species are poisoned by spent lead ammunition, including bald and golden eagles, ravens and California condors. Despite being banned in 1992 for hunting waterfowl, spent lead shotgun pellets continue to be frequently ingested by swans, cranes, ducks, geese, loons and other waterfowl. Many birds also consume lead-based fishing tackle lost in lakes and rivers, often with deadly consequences.

Lead ammunition poses health risks to people when bullets fragment in shot game and spread throughout the meat that humans eat: Imperceptible, dust-sized particles of lead can infect meat up to a foot and a half away from the bullet wound. State health agencies have had to recall venison donated to feed the hungry because of lead contamination. Nearly 10 million hunters, their families and low-income beneficiaries of venison donations may be at risk.

Contact Info: Jeff Miller, (415) 669-7357

Website : Center for Biological Diversity

ENN Network News – ENN

Monsanto found guilty of chemical poisoning

Posted by admin on February 15th, 2012

Reuters in Lyon

The French farmer Paul Francois, who says he suffers memory loss and stammering after inhaling a Monsanto pesticide. Photograph: Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/AFP/Getty Images

A French court has declared the US biotech giant Monsanto guilty of chemical poisoning of a French farmer, a judgment that could lend weight to other health claims against pesticides.

In the first such case heard in court in France, the grain grower Paul Francois, 47, said he suffered neurological problems including memory loss, headaches and stammering after inhaling Monsanto’s Lasso weedkiller in 2004.

He blames Monsanto for not providing adequate warnings on the product label.

The ruling was given by a court in Lyon, south-east France, which ordered an expert opinion of Francois’s losses to establish the amount of damages.

“It is a historic decision in so far as it is the first time that a [pesticide] maker is found guilty of such a poisoning,” Francois Lafforgue, Francois’s lawyer, told Reuters.

Monsanto said it was disappointed by the ruling and would examine whether to appeal against the judgment.

“Monsanto always considered that there were not sufficient elements to establish a causal relationship between Paul Francois’s symptoms and a potential poisoning,” the company’s lawyer, Jean-Philippe Delsart, said.

Previous health claims from farmers have foundered because of the difficulty of establishing clear links between illnesses and exposure to pesticides.

Francois and other farmers suffering from illness set up an association last year to make a case that their health problems should be linked to their use of crop protection products.

The agricultural branch of the French social security system says that since 1996, it has gathered farmers’ reports of sickness potentially related to pesticides, with about 200 alerts a year.

But only about 47 cases have been recognised as due to pesticides in the past 10 years. Francois, who suffers from neurological problems, obtained work invalidity status only after a court appeal.

The Francois case goes back to a period of intensive use of crop-protection chemicals in the European Union. The EU and its member countries have since banned a large number of substances considered dangerous.

Monsanto’s Lasso was banned in France in 2007 following an EU directive after the product had already been withdrawn in some other countries.

France, the EU’s largest agricultural producer, is now targeting a 50% reduction in pesticide use between 2008 and 2018, with initial results showing a 4% cut in farm and non-farm use in 2008-2010.

The Francois claim may be easier to argue than others because he can pinpoint a specific incident – inhaling the Lasso when cleaning the tank of his crop sprayer – whereas fellow farmers are trying to show accumulated effects from various products.

“It’s like lying on a bed of thorns and trying to say which one cut you,” said a farmer, who has recovered from prostate cancer and asked not to be named.

The French association of crop protection companies, UIPP, says pesticides are all subject to testing and that any evidence of a cancer risk in humans leads to withdrawal of products from the market.

“I think if we had a major health problem with pesticides, we would have already known about it,” Jean-Charles Bocquet, UIPP’s managing director, said.

The social security’s farming branch is due this year to add Parkinson’s disease to its list of conditions related to pesticide use after already recognising some cases of blood cancers and bladder and respiratory problems.

France’s health and environment safety agency, meanwhile, is conducting a study on farmers’ health, with results expected next year.

Environment news, comment and analysis from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk

EPA Celebrates Children’s Health Month and National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)

Posted by admin on October 24th, 2011

Release date: 10/24/2011

Contact Information: Dave Bary or Joe Hubbard at 214-665-2200 or [email protected]

“Children actively explore the world around them, which makes their developing physical and neurological systems especially vulnerable to the dangers of lead poisoning,” said EPA regional administrator Al Armendariz. “We must do all we can to protect them from this silent threat by raising awareness.”

To increase awareness of childhood lead poisoning prevention, the EPA along with CDC and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is participating in National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) October 23–29.

This year’s NLPPW theme, “Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future,” underscores the importance of testing your home, testing your child and learning how to prevent lead poisoning’s serious health effects. Homes built before 1978 should be inspected for lead hazards, and children living in these homes should be tested for lead. In addition, homeowners remodeling an older home are encouraged to talk to their contractor about ways to prevent lead poisoning during the renovation.
Parents can reduce a child’s exposure to lead in many ways. Here are some simple things you can do to help protect your family:

Get your home tested. Before you buy an older home, ask for a lead inspection.

Get your child tested. Even if your young children seem healthy, ask your doctor to test them for lead.

Get the facts! Your local health department can provide you with helpful information about preventing childhood lead poisoning.

For more information about lead poisoning prevention, call 1-800-424-LEAD.

More information about protecting children in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6pd/pd-t-kid/index.htm

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

EPA audio file is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/oct2011.html Full content generated by Get Full RSS.
U.S. EPA News

Cleanup Launched to Stop Lead Poisoning of Thousands of Albatross Chicks on Hawaii’s Midway

Posted by admin on July 14th, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week announced its intent to begin cleaning up toxic, lead-based paint at federal facilities on Midway Atoll that kills up to 10,000 Laysan albatross chicks each year and also threatens the endangered Laysan duck. The announcement came after the Center for Biological Diversity issued a notice of intent to sue the Service and affiliated agencies in 2010 for their failure to remediate the hazardous waste hurting the birds, in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Endangered Species Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The Service’s action memorandum authorizes cleanup to begin this month.

“For too long the Fish and Wildlife Service has watched while thousands of albatross chicks died needlessly every year,” said Shaye Wolf, a Center biologist. “The start of the cleanup this summer is an important step in protecting Midway’s wildlife from lead poisoning, but it still falls short.”

Scientists last year reported that lead poisoning is killing up to 10,000 chicks per year on Midway, affecting the long-term survival of the Laysan albatross. Chicks near contaminated structures have lethal levels of lead in their blood. Many poisoned chicks develop nervous-system damage called “droopwing” that leaves them unable to lift their wings, which drag on the ground and become susceptible to open sores and fractures, leading to slow and painful death.

“Unfortunately, the Service has failed to put an immediate or permanent end to the problem,” said Wolf. “The cleanup will not be completed for six to seven years and will not remove all lead-based paint, but instead encapsulate the paint, which requires frequent maintenance in the tropical climate. During the cleanup, albatross chicks will continue to experience horrific effects from lead poisoning for months before they finally die.”

The poison source is a decaying military base on Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Midway is the most important breeding site for the Laysan albatross. The U.S. Navy built its Midway base, later the site of a famous World War II battle, in 1903. When the Fish and Wildlife Service took over responsibility for Midway in 1996, it stopped maintaining most of the 95 military buildings. These structures are shedding toxic lead-paint chips that are then eaten by albatross chicks. Lead contamination also poses a threat to other Midway wildlife, including the highly endangered Laysan duck and 17 other species of seabirds.

Protecting albatross chicks from poison is especially important now. The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan killed an estimated 110,000 Laysan and black-footed albatross chicks — about 22 percent of this year’s young — at Midway Atoll, where more than two-thirds of the world’s Laysan albatross nest. At least 2,000 adults were also killed by the tsunami that washed over Midway’s three low-lying islands.

The Center’s 2010 notice challenged the failure of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Navy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources to abate and dispose of the lead paint that is harming protected seabirds.

Photos and video of lead-poisoned Laysan albatross chicks are available for use at

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/birds/albatross_poisoning/index.html

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 320,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. www.biologicaldiversity.org

Contact Info: Shaye Wolf, (415) 632-5301