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This drooping lobster is missing limbs and painted with dark spots, the tell-tale signs of shell disease: Photo by Joseph Caputo/MBLUniversity of Connecticut researcher has preliminary evidence on what’s causing shell disease in lobsters.

Ever since 1999 when Long Island fishermen hauled up traps filled with dead lobsters scientists have been trying to figure out the cause of the widespread mortality.

University of Connecticut Research Professor Hans Laufer says warmer water temperatures played a key role, but he also suspects shell disease. Laufer is investigating the role of alkylphenols, a chemical compound that’s formed by the breakdown of hard plastics. Laufer suspects the compound is taking the place of an amino acid naturally found in lobsters, which normally would harden the shell during molting. But Laufer says alkylphenols may be disrupting that process.

“If you interfere with the shell hardening process we feel that it makes the shell more susceptible to microbial invasion, which is what the shell disease actually is.”

Laufer says alkylphenols get into the water and sediments from wastewater treatment plants which don’t adequately remove them. Besides hard plastics they’re also found in detergents, paints, and lubricants.