Even modest exposure to oil can harm coastal, marine birds

A new study suggests that birds with even small amounts of oil present on their feathers experience problems related to their red blood cells.

This was revealed in a recent Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry study that examined blood samples from birds present in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 and 2011.

According to it, following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, even birds with small amounts of oil present on their feathers experienced problems related to their red blood cells.

The findings showed that even a modest oil exposure can cause problems for individual birds and bird populations.

Lead author Dr. Jesse Fallon said that his team found that oil-induced injury to birds was far more wide-reaching than previously suspected.

"Even birds with relatively limited exposure to oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill sustained damage to circulating red blood cells and had evidence of anemia, which can adversely affect reproduction and reduce survival," Fallon added.