EGGS OF URBAN CHICKENS FOUND CONTAMINATED.

PositionYOUR LIFE - Brief article

Chicken ownership has become increasingly popular in the U.S. in recent years, including in cities. Although wanting more nutritious, tastier, and safer eggs is an often-cited motivation for backyard chicken owners, eggs from urban chickens can contribute to lead exposure in young children, according to a study by researchers at Boston (Mass.) University's School of Public Health.

The study, published in Environmental Research, finds eggs from backyard chickens in Boston contain notably higher concentrations of lead than market eggs, and eating these eggs could increase blood lead levels in children, particularly those younger than one.

"Backyard chickens can be a great way for kids to learn about animals and nutrition," says Jessica Leibler, assistant professor of environmental health and the study's colead author with doctoral student Komal Basra. "However, even low levels of lead exposure can harm child development, so testing your coop soil for lead and...

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