Endocrine Disruption Noticed In Idaho Fish; Same Xenoestrogens May Do The Same To Humans

[hatrack]

EDIT

The potential hazards of EDCs were first discovered in the 1990s among fish and amphibians that gather downstream from sewage treatment plants in Europe. These waters contain abnormally high concentrations of organic chemicals such as steroids, nonprescription drugs, insect repellents, detergents, plasticizers, fire retardants, antibiotics, fragrances and household solvents and their byproducts. Aquatic biologists noticed that wild fish and frogs evidenced significantly increased rates of sex reversal, gonadal cysts and other reproductive tract tumors, dead tissue and decreased fertility. Intersexed or feminized fish, in which males grow both functioning testes and ovaries, have already been caught in rivers in Colorado, Washington state and Virginia, and in Lake Ontario. Because these intersexed characteristics make reproduction difficult, they tend to appear just before fish populations begin to decline.

EDCs are found in herbicides and pesticides, plastics, pharmaceuticals, residues from contraceptives and hormone replacements, cleansers, human waste and pollution from feedlots.

The latter are especially controversial. In 2006, residents in Weiser raised questions about possible contamination of their domestic water supply from hormones and antibiotics used by nearby Sunnyside Feedlots (BW, News, "Dirty Water," February 1, 2006). According to state officials, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare expects to have the results of its study available for public comment in February.

Now, scientists have evidence that some of these EDCs, called xenoestrogens, might cause conditions such as testicular cancer, urinary tract birth defects, low sperm counts and the premature onset of menses in females among people who regularly drink water with these compounds in them. Kai Elgethun, Ph.D., Idaho's state toxicologist, says the majority of xenoestrogens come from everyday personal-care products such as soaps, lotions, medications and cosmetics. While xenoestrogens are far less potent than estrogens proper, Elgethun says, they can accumulate in body fat and stay in the system a long time.

EDIT

http://www.boiseweekly.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A215775

[pitohui]

1. don't they also cause weight gain, esp. in men?

i have often wondered if this is linked to the obesity epidemic in boys and men

when i was younger to see an obese boy or male teen-ager was quite unusual, now it's an every day thing

[KT2000]

2. Industry was directed to study

this and devise methods for testing their chemicals products for EDC's. I believe it has been at least 10 years of nothing! They will not do the work so we need to insist through legislation I guess.