My email and response on this topic!
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Maureendavey
Date: Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 10:49 PM
Subject: Re: ABC Catalyst - seabird heavy metals
To: Jeremy O'Wheel <>
Hi Jem
I have been sick all week with a sore throat and constant cough. So
miserable. But only a week ago I was relaxed, happy, holidayed so I'm
looking forward to a return of that state, hopefully tomorrow!
Jennifer Lavers is the woman who asserted that (Tasmanian) muttonbirds had
high levels of heavy metals, but when we (TAC and DHHS) sent muttonbirds
and muttonbird oil to the Australian food standards laboratory for analysis
the levels of heavy metals were either undetectable or well within safe
limits. We were transparent about the source of muttonbirds sent for
analysis (3 different commercial rookeries from 2011 season), could trace
their journey from rookery to laboratory, used a reputable laboratory
accredited to analyse foods for metal contamination, and shared results
with Lavers and colleagues.
Her lab was not prepared to be open about their methodology or their
detailed results, but that hasn't stopped them making claims in the media.
Their previous work has been on analysing feathers, and like hair analysis
in humans, it is not a reliable indicator of what is going on inside the
body. Heavy metals can be found in hair or feathers for many reasons, but
frequently the source is external contamination.
I agree decreasing the extent of plastic pollution would be a good thing,
but I think claiming this leads to heavy metal toxicity in the chicks of
migratory birds such as shearwaters lacks scientific plausibility and I am
yet see any reputable and reproducible evidence of contamination of the
flesh.
Thanks for sending me the link.
Maureen
On 06/09/2012, at 9:12 PM, "Jeremy O'Wheel" <> wrote:
Hi Maureen,
How are you? It sounded like you had a good trip to NSW with Mon!
I was wondering if you saw this;
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3583576.htm
People on one of my birding email lists have been talking about it. Do you
have an opinion on it that I could convey to them?
Cheers,
Jeremy
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