A study from the University of Sussex reveals that songbird chicks are being harmed by high levels of pesticides found in pet fur, used by their parents for nest lining. Flea and tick treatments for pets contain harmful chemicals, which were detected in every nest surveyed. The researchers stress the need for urgent government reassessment of the environmental risks linked to these treatments. Given that the chemicals have previously been known to harm aquatic life, this discovery further underscores the broader implications of veterinary drug use and calls for stricter regulations.
Our research shows that based on the chemicals detected, veterinary flea and tick drugs are the most likely source of contamination.
No nest was free from insecticides in our study, and this significant presence of harmful chemicals could be having devastating consequences on the UK's bird populations.
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