The Poisoned Rivers Making Fish Change Sex

by Julie Wheldon

Experts have uncovered further evidence that fish are changing sex due to gender-bending chemicals polluting Britain's waters. Scientists have found male fish are taking on female characteristics because of hormones and pollutants being discharged into rivers and estuaries.

A report published yesterday on the state of UK seas said signs of 'feminisation' have been found in flounder in estuaries such as the Tyne, Tees, Mersey, Clyde and Forth. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said tests on the blood of male flounder revealed yolk protein which is used to create eggs and normally found only in females.

There are also indications of 'feminisation' in freshwater trout. The report follows fears that some cod may be affected by the problem.

A conference in Japan was recently told that scientists have found evidence of female egg protein in the blood of some very old male cod.

Sex changes in fish are a concern because, if males take on female characteristics, it will interfere with reproduction and could jeopardize the survival of the species. Last year, the Environment Agency warned that a third of male fish in English rivers could be changing sex due to female hormones in the water released from treatment works.

It is believed the higher levels of oestrogen compounds are due to the widespread use of the contraceptive pill. Yesterday, Mike Waldrock, science director of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, said fish such as flounder show more obvious changes, but can used as a kind of marker for other species.

"These are just indicators of underlying problems that may be found in many fish," he added. "Even in cod off shore, there are early suggestions that we might be able to see yolk protein in very large old male cod." But he stressed only small numbers of cod had been tested and there was no evidence of whether pollutants were to blame.

The DEFRA report also high-lighted how female dogwhelks, a type of snail, have taken on male sexual characteristics or become sterile because of chemicals called TBT compounds from paints on boats. These chemicals can no longer be used on small vessels and are totally from 2008.

Environment Minister Elliott Morley said he was concerned about the effect of hormone-disrupting chemicals on marine life. He added: "We know this is a problem. There is some evidence this has worsened over the years and we do not fully understand the long term implications."

He said that detailed research and monitoring were under way.

Mary Taylor, a chemicals campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "We are concerned that by the time that all the evidence has been gathered, it will be too late. Already compounds are building up in the food chain."

Experts are also worried because plankton, the first stage in the food chain, is moving north due to global warming. They fear other species will follow.
Daily Mail, 2nd March 2005

Further Resources
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Health Wars by Phillip Day
The ABC's of Disease by Phillip Day

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