Fertile males, endangered species!
We had a river with two headed fish and now researchers are also linking water pollution in UK rivers to a decline in male fertility. The first study to show that a group of chemicals that behave as “anti-androgens” (block the function of the male hormone testosterone, in doing so reducing male fertility), is present in UK rivers potentially affecting humans.
Anti androgens are contained in medicines (some cancer treatments), pharmaceutical treatments and pesticides. Previous research has shown oestrogen mimics lead to feminizing of male fish even leading to some changing sex. But the link between human testicular dysgenesis and environmental toxins could not previously be established because testicular dysgenesis is caused by exposure to anti-androgens not oestrogen mimics.
Researchers will now try to find out where these chemicals are coming from.
