Pollutants create 'intersex fish' found in Potomac

[gatorboy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060906/ap_on_sc/intersex_fish

McLEAN, Va. - Some species of male fish in the Potomac River and its tributaries are developing female sexual traits at a frequency higher than scientists have seen before, raising concerns about pollutants in a waterway that provides drinking water for millions of people.

The so-called "intersex fish," which produce immature eggs in their testes, were discovered in the Potomac rivershed in 2003 and have also been found in other parts of the country.

But the frequency that the U.S. Geological Surveys found last year is much higher than what has been found elsewhere, said fish pathologist Vicki Blazer.

In some Potomac tributaries, nearly all of the male smallmouth bass caught in last year's survey were the abnormal fish. In the Potomac itself, seven of 13 largemouth bass exhibited female characteristics, including three that were producing eggs.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Meanwhile humanity escapes unscathed..... or not. n/t

[Shallah Kali]

6. Some 1 in 2,000 babies are born intersexed according to what I have read

Meaning they are not totally male or totally female. I have no clue if anyone has bothered to check for any of the chemicals known to cause problems these problems in aniamls in the children. Also there are conditions where men develop breasts that might not just be random genetic chance but again I personally am not aware of research into the causes considering the posability that these chemicals might be involved.

[MercutioATC]

2. We have "fish pathologists"??

That says something...I don't quite know what, but it says something.

[Mike03]

3. An Unfolding Tragedy

Hormone disruption via toxic chemicals has affected a huge number of species, including human beings. I don't understand why this is not front page news, but anyone who wants to read more about it can do so in the new book "The Hundred Year Lie" by Randall Fitzgerald, "Hormone Deception" by D. Lindsey Berkson and "Our Stolen Future" by Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski and John Myers. It began with salmon and frogs, and now it is seen in human beings. A few months ago here on DU was an article on the increased percentage of males seeking breast reduction surgery in the UK due to estrogen contamination via plasticizers (in bottles, etc.), food (animal proteins, mostly) and water.

[loves_dulcinea]

12. well done!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

14. It takes only drop of estrogen in a railroad car tanker

(this is an example of the molar concentration necessary) to feminize a male human in the womb or so I have heard.

[KamaAina]

4. Hey KKKarl! Your wedge issue is swimming right past you!

"We must protect society from the menace of these slimy creatures who treat gender as if it were something to be shed at will, like their scales..." :sarcasm:

[Robb]

5. Next thing they'll want to get married

...you can about hear the tearing sound as our collective moral fabric is rent. :D

[loves_dulcinea]

7. estrogen leaches into the estuaries

this news is so old. i heard about this on npr's "the people's pharmacy" program years ago.

ever heard of pfisteria?

[gatorboy]

8. Is that a Def Leppard album?

[loves_dulcinea]

10. rofl!

the drummer from def leppard only has one arm!

not quite.

http://www.loe.org/shows/shows.htm?programID=97-P13-00038

anyone feel like kayaking? surfing?

seriously, there are many chemicals which mimic estrogen, most of them a byproduct of inorganic materials.
then too, not all estrogen is processed by the human body and gets excreted in urine, and so on.
i want to say there are other ways that these estrogen mimics are getting into the watershed, but i forget and i don't want to ruin all my credibility.
besides, i can tell, i'm boring you. no, no don't try to pretend. i've outstayed my welcome.
well you won't have me to kick around anymore....

[Mike03]

13. Please stick around

You obviously know what you are talking about. I'm so sick and tired of seeing people with wisdom getting chased away by people who actually have no idea what they are talking about.

[RedEarth]

9. KR

[carpetbagger]

11. I'm so sick of Lieberman posts.

Oh, sorry, it wasn't what I thought.