[Mb-civic] environmental hormone disruption from human source affecting fish in Calif

[IHHS at aol.com]

Sexually Confused Fish Found Off Southern California 
11-14-2005 12:16 PM

(Los Angeles, CA) -- Scientists have found male fish with female 
characteristics off the coast of Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The find has scientists 
concerned that treated sewage released offshore contains hormone-disrupting 
compounds that are deforming the sex organs of marine life. The "Los Angeles 
Times" reports eleven male bottom-dwelling fish out of 64 caught between Santa 
Monica and Huntington Beach had ovary tissue in their testes. No such 
abnormalities were found elsewhere off Southern California, even though fish were caught 
from Point Conception to the U.S. Mexican border. Two other studies turned up 
similar results in the same ocean areas. Two-thirds of male turbot and sole 
caught near Orange County's sewage outfall had egg producing proteins. 
Scientists say the effects on the overall health, abundance of fish populations and 
the rest of the marine ecosystems is unknown.


Copyright 2005 Metro Networks Communications Inc., A Westwood One Company 

    
 



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