Large numbers of deformed toads have spawned from polluted ponds in Bermuda's Nature Reserves.

Dr. Jamie Bacon, the principal investigator of the Bermuda Zoological Society's Bermuda Amphibian Project, told Hamilton Rotarians yesterday that Pitman's Pond, a dug pond that's going to be a Nature Reserve under the Buy-Back Bermuda campaign, had the highest number of abnormal toads since 2003.

"To me, it is rather disturbing that five out of the seven worst sites were dug ponds that are located in proposed or existing Nature Reserves because these are the areas in which nature is supposed to be protected," Dr. Bacon said.

But she discovered that the Bermuda Audubon Society's Seymour Pond, as well as dug ponds in the Warwick Marsh, Long Bay and Spittal Pond Nature Reserves have all had very high percentages of deformed toads.

A lined pond on the third hole at Port Royal Golf Course and a flooded parking lot at Bermuda Mechanical Supply Co. Ltd. made the list of the seven "worst" ponds.

"And what we found is the natural or dug ponds and canals, and the golf course ponds are statistically the worst sites for deformities and that the cement or lined ponds in private gardens are statistically the safest sites," she said.

Dr. Bacon researches the giant toad, commonly referred to as the cane or marine toad, to determine if other species, including humans, may be at risk.

"Bermuda may be unique in the world in that so many adult toads, up to 30 percent of the ones we examine, are deformed," she said.

Toads with missing hands and feet, fused digits and deformed toes are commonly found but she also saw a number of facial deformities, especially eye malformations. Toads with bulging, non-functional eyes, are also common. Also found was one toad with a non-functioning eye-pad growing on its nose.

A background deformity rate of five percent is considered to be acceptable, she said, but since 1999, Bermuda's deformity rate of 30 percent "makes us one of the worst sites in the world".

Toads are being deformed while they are tadpoles.

"We've also learned that the problem is not localised to a few isolated ponds," she said. "We've found deformed toadlets at 31 different breeding sites located in a variety of habitats in all nine parishes."

Using five target ponds and one safe pond, toxicity studies uncovered a "complex cocktail" of metals like arsenic, lead, mercury in the ponds.

In addition, concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons in the sediment were found to be high enough to cause deformities.

When the metals and petroleum hydrocarbons mix they increase each other's toxicity, she said.

The project's goal is to complete a preliminary risk formulation by April, 2007, which will attempt to determine where the pollutants are coming from.

It will include a human impact assessment in which hospital records for birth defects will be analysed to determine if links exist between human birth defects and toad deformities, she said.

An assessment of the potential of UV light and fertilisers to cause deformities will also be included.

And the risk assessment will provide recommendations to Government and environmental Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to help determine if Bermuda needs a "comprehensive environmental risk assessment" or "management plans for amphibians and affected sites" she said.

She added that the project is a glowing example of the collaboration that may exist between Government and Bermuda's NGOs including the Audubon Society, the Bermuda National Trust and the Bermuda Zoological Society.

"Our study has shown that pollution is already having a measurable negative impact on the environment," Dr. Bacon said. "The challenge to our youth will be ? what can they do to ensure that Bermuda becomes a healthier place to live for all of its inhabitants."