[Pharmwaste] Declining Male Fertility Linked To Water Pollution

[DeBiasi,Deborah]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090118200636.htm

Science News 

Declining Male Fertility Linked To Water Pollution

ScienceDaily (Jan. 20, 2009) - New research strengthens the link between
water pollution and rising male fertility problems. The study, by Brunel
University, the Universities of Exeter and Reading and the Centre for
Ecology & Hydrology, shows for the first time how a group of
testosterone-blocking chemicals is finding its way into UK rivers,
affecting wildlife and potentially humans.

The study identified a new group of chemicals that act as
'anti-androgens'. This means that they inhibit the function of the male
hormone, testosterone, reducing male fertility. Some of these are
contained in medicines, including cancer treatments, pharmaceutical
treatments, and pesticides used in agriculture. The research suggests
that when they get into the water system, these chemicals may play a
pivotal role in causing feminising effects in male fish.

Earlier research by Brunel University and the University of Exeter has
shown how female sex hormones (estrogens), and chemicals that mimic
estrogens, are leading to 'feminisation' of male fish. Found in some
industrial chemicals and the contraceptive pill, they enter rivers via
sewage treatment works. This causes reproductive problems by reducing
fish breeding capability and in some cases can lead to male fish
changing sex.

Other studies have also suggested that there may be a link between this
phenomenon and the increase in human male fertility problems caused by
testicular dysgenesis syndrome. Until now, this link lacked credence
because the list of suspects causing effects in fish was limited to
estrogenic chemicals whilst testicular dysgenesis is known to be caused
by exposure to a range of anti-androgens.

Lead author on the research paper, Dr Susan Jobling at Brunel
University's Institute for the Environment, said: "We have been working
intensively in this field for over ten years. The new research findings
illustrate the complexities in unravelling chemical causation of adverse
health effects in wildlife populations and re-open the possibility of a
human - wildlife connection in which effects seen in wild fish and in
humans are caused by similar combinations of chemicals. We have
identified a new group of chemicals in our study on fish, but do not
know where they are coming from. A principal aim of our work is now to
identify the source of these pollutants and work with regulators and
relevant industry to test the effects of a mixture of these chemicals
and the already known environmental estrogens and help protect
environmental health."

Senior author Professor Charles Tyler of the University of Exeter said:
"Our research shows that a much wider range of chemicals than we
previously thought is leading to hormone disruption in fish. This means
that the pollutants causing these problems are likely to be coming from
a wide variety of sources. Our findings also strengthen the argument for
the cocktail of chemicals in our water leading to hormone disruption in
fish, and contributing to the rise in male reproductive problems. There
are likely to be many reasons behind the rise in male fertility problems
in humans, but these findings could reveal one, previously unknown,
factor."

Bob Burn, Principal Statistician in the Statistical Services Centre at
the University of Reading, said: "State-of- the- art statistical
hierarchical modelling has allowed us to explore the complex
associations between the exposure and potential effects seen in over
1000 fish sampled from 30 rivers in various parts of England."

The research took more than three years to complete and was conducted by
the University of Exeter, Brunel University, University of Reading and
the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Statistical modelling was supported
by Beyond the Basics Ltd.

The research team is now focusing on identifying the source of
anti-androgenic chemicals, as well as continuing to study their impact
on reproductive health in wildlife and humans.

The research was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council
and is now published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.


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Adapted from materials provided by University of Exeter, via
EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
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Linked To Water Pollution. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 21, 2009,
from http://www.sciencedaily.com- /releases/2009/01/090118200636.htm

Deborah L. DeBiasi
Email:   dldebiasi at deq.virginia.gov
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Water Permit Programs
Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics Management Program
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218 (NEW!)
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219
PH:         804-698-4028
FAX:      804-698-4032