The New York Times

The New York Times
September 23, 1996, Monday, Late Edition - Final
(New Jersey)
NEW JERSEY DAILY BRIEFING;
Birds Imperiled by Pollutants

BYLINE: By ANDY NEWMAN

SECTION: Section B; Page 1; Column 1; Metropolitan Desk

LENGTH: 151 words

Many seabirds off the New Jersey coast have so much lead and mercury in their bodies that their chances for survival are threatened, according to a Rutgers University study reported by The Associated Press yesterday.

Joanna Burger, a Rutgers ecologist who has studied birds in Barnegat Bay for 20 years, has found mercury in the feathers of black skimmers in the bay at more than five times the concentration known to affect reproduction. She also found snowy egret eggs containing more than twice the amount of mercury known to affect reproduction.

Lead and mercury levels dropped in the area's seabirds in the 1970's, but rose again in the late 1980's, Professor Burger said. Possible causes of contamination include dredging that stirs up pollutants in muck; pollution in South America, where birds migrate; lead-based paint on bridges, and lapses in environmental law enforcement, she said.

COUNTRY: UNITED STATES (92%); SOUTH AMERICA (65%);

STATE: NEW JERSEY, USA (92%);

COMPANY: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATED PRESS (72%); RUTGERS UNIVERSITY (93%); RUTGERS UNIVERSITY (93%);

ORGANIZATION: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY RUTGERS UNIVERSITY (93%); RUTGERS UNIVERSITY (93%);

GEOGRAPHIC: NEW JERSEY; UNITED STATES (92%); SOUTH AMERICA (65%); NEW JERSEY, USA (92%);

SUBJECT: BIRDS; LEAD; MERCURY (METAL); WATER POLLUTION BIRDS (90%); WATER POLLUTION (90%); COASTAL AREAS (90%); LEAD (88%); ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (88%); COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (88%); RESEARCH REPORTS (88%); HEAVY METALS & TOXIC MINERALS (88%); LEAD PAINT (73%); ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (66%);

PERSON: NEWMAN, ANDY JOANNA BURGER (75%);

LOAD-DATE: September 23, 1996

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
Copyright 1996 The New York Times Company