How much exposed to pollutants are birds, and what are the consequences?

Human activities frequently lead to the introduction of contaminants into natural environments that can affect the health, reproduction and survival of wild birds. These contaminants may be chemicals, and the list is growing rapidly, such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), anticoagulants or metal trace elements (TMEs). The large quantities of plastic released into the environment are also a major concern, as they break down into microplastics and release chemicals such as phthalates. This project aims to quantify exposure to pollutants in wild bird populations and elucidate their impact on health and fitness.