Tuesday, November 16, 2010

New Hurdle for California Condors May Be DDT From Years Ago

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/science/16condors.html?ref=science

It was recently discovered that the eggs of California condors are extremely thin and fragile, which is most likely a direct effect from the use of DDT before it was banned in the United States over 30 years ago. The California condor is an endangered bird species that is making a significant comeback after at one point reaching an extremely low population. However, the effect that DDT has on its eggs is a continuing threat to its survival. This is a perfect example of how the past actions of humans carry a lot of weight in the big picture. The use of this deadly pesticide was banned in 1972, but we still see its harmful effects on the wildlife around us. This should be a warning to the human race that our actions have severe consequences in the environment for the years to come.

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