[Pharmwaste] Human health link eludes researchers in intersex fish crisis - article

Tenace, Laurie Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us
Wed Apr 21 10:50:08 EDT 2010


http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Human-health-link-eludes-researchers-in-intersex-fish-crisis-91651519.html

Human health link eludes researchers in intersex fish crisis
By: William C. Flook 
Examiner Staff Writer

April 21, 2010 
 
Environmentalists renewed their push Tuesday to draw a human health link to the suspected chemical culprit behind vast numbers of transgender "intersex" fish in the Potomac River. 

The phenomenon has troubled conservation groups, public officials and scientists for years: An estimated 80 percent of male smallmouth bass in the river contain immature eggs in their testes. Researchers think the blame lies in the presence of hormone-damaging pollutants called endocrine disrupters found in discarded pharmaceuticals, pesticides, cosmetics and other sources. 

But efforts to drum up public awareness of the problem have been hamstrung by the inability, so far, to link the chemicals in the river to specific human health problems. 

The Potomac Conservancy, kicking off its "Fish Mystery" campaign Tuesday, called for expanded grant funding to pinpoint both the exact cause of the transgendered bass and the chemicals' effect on human health, as well as find ways to keep the chemicals out of waters that provide the region's drinking supply. 

An understanding of what the intersex phenomenon could mean for public health is a "little ways away," said Vicki Blazer, a U.S. Geological Survey fish pathologist. Even when the cause of transgendered fish is discovered, she said, "it's going to be a lot harder to get to how these chemicals affect people." 

"Because fish, of course, are in the water all the time," she said. "But what's in your drinking water, what you might be exposed to through skin and food and everything else, is another issue for people." 

The Potomac Conservancy "believes we need to do everything we can to keep these toxins out of our drinking water," President Hedrick Belin said. 

"We don't know exactly what level of exposure causes harmful effects to human health," he said. "But we do know that exposure to these chemical compounds ... causes problems." 

Rep. Jim Moran, whose 8th District is bordered by the Potomac River, said he plans to put $30 million toward endocrine disrupter research. Moran is chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee that funds the Department of the Interior and Environmental Protection Agency.


Laurie Tenace
Environmental Specialist
Waste Reduction Section
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Rd., MS 4555
Tallahassee FL 32399-2400
P: 850.245.8759
F: 850.245.8811
Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us  

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