'Intersex' Fish Found Off Calif. Coast

[Eugene]

'Intersex' Fish Found Off Calif. Coast

Mon Nov 14,10:47 PM ET

LOS ANGELES - Scientists have discovered sexually altered fish off the
Southern California coast, raising concerns that treated sewage
discharged into the ocean contains chemicals that can affect an
animal's reproductive system.

So-called intersex animals are not new, but most previous instances
were in freshwater. Environmentalists say this is among the first
studies to document the effects in a marine environment.

Last year, federal scientists reported finding egg-growing male fish
in Maryland's Potomac River. They think the abnormality may be caused
by pollutants from sewage plants, feedlots and factories.

In the latest studies, presented at Monday's Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry in Baltimore, scientists caught 82 male
English sole and hornyhead turbot off Los Angeles and Orange counties.

<snip>

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051115/ap_on_sc/intersex_fish

[Wetzelbill]

1. That would be an awesome band name..."Intersex Fish"

oh but I wouldn't want to eat that thing. Ugh.....

[undergroundpanther]

2. If pollutants can make the fish intersex..

How long until WE become more intersexed?

http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/
That is the question people fail to connect.

[Wetzelbill]

3. that's a noodle scratcher....

now I'm going to be freaked out all week. :)

[One_Life_To_Give]

8. 44D, Not just cough syrup anymore

And you will be able to play with them whenever you want!

[nosmokes]

4. it's been happening for years. look at the earlier onset

of puberty for kids, girls that begin menstral cycles as early as 10 are commonplace. the fresh water fish previously found in studies were found fairly close to outflows of sewage treatment plants and the abnormalities are ascribed to all of the added hormones and synthetics that are in our food and environment. just one of the many reasons why organic matters.

[Dogmudgeon]

10. It's happening already

There is a big old honkin' amount of xenoestrogenic compounds in our environment from pollution, as well as from the high level of consumption of soy-based foods. These substances mimick natural estrogen, so they feminize men, and by blocking natural estrogen, masculinize women.

The effects aren't behavioral -- they're physiological. Lower sperm counts, menstrual distress, increased rates of cancers of the sex organs, endocrine problems -- all have been linked to xenoestrogens. We still need more public health and large-scale environmental studies, but so far, the evidence is convincing and frightening.

--p!

[aden_nak]

5. Pat Robertson: "These fish are just CHOOSING to be intersexed!"

[ugarte]

6. And if these fish marry each other...

Won't the straight fish feel threatened?

[skids]

11. They are NOT intersexed.

They're "metrosexual." :eyes:

[henslee]

7. A billion gallons a day. Good God. I guess making jokes is about

all we can do now. Good bye SoCal Coastal Waters.

[MountainLaurel]

9. Not just SoCal

They've been finding these intersex fish in the Potomac for the past several years. The changes are attributed to the runoff in the headwaters from local chicken farms.

[philb]

12. Sewers are also a major source of mercury in freshwater and bays

http://www.flcv.com/flhg.html
Dental amalgam is the largest source of mercury in sewers everywhere
and the 2nd largest source in the environment overall; virtually all mercury from amalgam ends up dispursed in the environment
http://www.flcv.com/damspr2f.html