According to the study’s lead author, Tyler Frankel, who was quoted in Phys.org, coal ash contaminants increase in concentration as they work their way up through the food web, threatening a number of predatory fish and birds. “These waterways serve as important routes for several migratory fish species and sensitive nursery habitats for various endemic species,” Frankel said, per Phys.org. “Our work highlights the importance of considering this exposure pathway in conservation strategies.” Read more.