Posted on 07/11/2007 8:01:58 PM PDT by monomaniac
July 11, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - For some years now, reports have been growing from around the world that the massive amounts of synthetic birth control hormones being pumped into the water systems through sewage outflow is changing the sex of fish stocks. Recently, scientists have also begun to warn of the possible carcinogenic effects of the build-up of estrogenic chemicals in drinking water.
As early as 2002, the UK Environment Agency warned that fish stocks in British rivers were showing signs of gender ambiguity as a result of high levels of estrogen in the water. A survey of 1,500 fish at 50 river sites found more than a third of males also displayed female characteristics.
Research by Dr Jayne Brian and Professor John Sumpter at Brunel University's Institute for the Environment, showed estrogenic chemicals are affecting the reproduction and gender of aquatic life and warned of the affect on the reproductive ability of humans.
The two researchers are calling for a reassessment of EU legislation regulating chemicals. "There is a cocktail of chemicals in our fresh water. We need to consider tougher safety margins to fully protect wildlife and humans."
Two years ago, University of Colorado scientists, sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, found that of 123 fish caught in Boulder Creek downstream from the Boulder sewage treatment plant, 101 were female, 12 were male, and 10 had both male and female characteristics.
The strange case of the trans-gendered fish is "the first thing that I've seen as a scientist that really scared me," University of Colorado biologist John Woodling told the Denver Post at the time.
More recently, in June this year, scientists from the University of Pittsburgh investigated the fish populations in the Allegheny River near storm sewer outflow pipes and discovered the same deformations. The region is dependent on the Allegheny system for drinking water.
Dr. Conrad Daniel Volz from the University of Pittsburgh Center for Environmental Oncology, warned that the rise in steroid hormones in the drinking water in the Pittsburgh area is a threat to health. Numerous studies have shown a link between contraceptive estrogen and hormone problems and some cancers, including testicular cancer.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that other study results have shown ambiguous gender in 85 per cent of the catfish caught on the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. Chemicals extracted from 25 randomly sampled fish caused growth of estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells cultured in a laboratory, eleven of which "produced very aggressive cancer growth".
But scientists and environmental groups are careful to avoid recommending restrictions on artificial contraceptives.
The National Catholic Register, reporting on the issue, quotes George Harden, a board member of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists, saying "If you're killing mosquitoes to save people from the West Nile virus, you can count on secular environmentalists to lay down in front of the vapour truck, claiming some potential side effect that might result from the spray," Harden said. "But if birth control deforms fish - backed by the proof of an EPA study - and threatens the drinking supply, mum will be the word."
Curt Cunningham, water quality issues chairman for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Sierra Club International, told the Register that people "would not take kindly" to the suggestion of banning or restricting hormonal contraceptives.
"For many people it's an economic necessity. It's also a personal freedom issue," Cunningham said.
Read coverage from the National Catholic Register:
http://ncregister.com/site/article/3151
Read Related LifeSiteNews.com coverage: Contraceptive Pill Confirmed as Pollutant - UK Environment Agency
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/apr/02041104.html
Is there any chance of reintroducing the hormonal birth control upstream of human consumption, where it might have some practical value?
Good grief. How long have they been covering this up? This is totally new to me. Really creepy.
But I’m not surprised at the reaction of the Sierra Club officer. Killing off people has become more important to those guys than preserving the environment. What’s a few fish if the human population is being reduced?
Does any one have any proof that anyone has ever layed down in front of a mosquito fogging truck to stop it from doing its duty?
There is a new technology that could turn around a lot of the debate about potable water. It is a filter covered with a layer of nanotubes only large enough to pass water molecules, not contaminants.
It uses about 1/4th of the energy needed for typical reverse osmosis water purification, and the filters are fairly long lived. Much of what is typically waste water could be re-used, leaving almost entirely solid waste for disposal.
Such a system could be well within the means of a typical city, allowing them to recycle effluent much more cost effectively, rather than using well water or increasingly taxed rivers. With widespread use of that technology, it could even result in pumping fresh water down into the water table, to replenish depleted resources.
I’ve seen reports along these lines at least for ten years now. Perhaps they have new and better evidence, but there were indications at least ten years ago that excess estrogen was wreaking havoc with frogs and fish.
Good thing I drink mountian dew and not water ;)
“Good thing I drink mountian dew and not water ;)”
Hey I drink Fresca! It’s how I get my daily fiber as it has wood rosin in it!!!
I grew up in Pittsburgh...and I remember the hue and cry about the pollution (acid rain)
...well, stop by my car dealership and I’ll show you the “acid rain that doesn’t exist” marks all over the tops of cars. The fact that “harmless” drops of rain can eat into a urethane finish is a bit scary. No, it’s not from the steel mills any longer, it’s from the sulfur getting puffed out from coal burning plants all along the rivers. The proliferation of steel mills, in their time, contributed even more.
But, as the water cycle turns, you’re drinking it because most of Da Burgh’s water comes right from the rivers. A few chemical additives and a little bit of filtration from the friendly PAWC isn’t going to get rid of the nasties.
Remember the green snow in Bridgeville behind Koppers? Guess we shouldn’t hue and cry about that fact even tho *many* of the families that grew up around it have suffered weird and wacky illnesses...just for starters, an unusual concentration of people with Lou Gherig’s disease in the South Hills area (stated by the neurologist of my friend who died from it). This is a disease that 1 in 150,000 gets...based on Pgh’s entire Metro population, that’s only 20 cases diagnosed each year. Yet, 4 years ago, I personally met 15 who lived right in the USC/SF/BP/Bridgeville areas and were all diagnosed right around the same time. They are all dead now.
Worry about the rivers/water table and what’s in them? You bet’cha.
This might just explain why white Europe isn’t reproducing itself. In other words it may not be that Europeans are deliberately foregoing reproduction, it may be rather that they might not be capable of having babies.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1271332/posts
I always wondered if it were really murder or genocide through poison bombing (basically using long term tactics to reduce your enemy...much longer term than just catapulting a dead horse into your fortress).
With the spat of poisonings found in food made in Communist nations and, oh my gender!, hormones found in the drinking water, I wonder if it’s really malignant or plan homicidal negligence that brings this out of less-than-friendly to humans groups?
I think it’s spiritual more than physical. But since most typing on keyboards are spiritual robbed in flesh, what or Who dwells in the heart becomes master of the flesh. If you don’t have Jesus in your heart, then a spirit not of God takes control of your will.
Perhaps it was a big pharma company that wanted to avoid high-priced disposal regulations and found the nearest ditch to dump their bio-waste. Thus, the demon of sloth has taken advantage with the demon of greed to cut a corner, make a quick buck, and take a wacky gender fat bat to pervert and freak out the human population. If it were conspiratorial, then it would actually sell more newspapers. Yeah, sure, the CCP was in on poisoning Westerners. What if Muslim doctors in the UK were messing with the drinking water to make EnglishMEN a thing of the past. That would sell news too. Oh, wait...too many coincidences. Fortunately, Beijing is quite happy making billions as capitalists and Muslims enjoy living in the UK. Thus, I'll have to blame all this evil on the devil. So be it. I really prefer it that way. Forgiving mortals (like me) is fun!
Ping
I find this interesting. Two of the lefts precious issues have come into contrast - birth control/sex and the environment. I figured the libs would pick birth control, especially since some of it can act as an abortaficient.
I think it is scary and disgusting to realize what could be in the tap water we drink and use to prepare foods everyday. I wonder what the long term effects of this will be. This could be one of the reasons why girls are starting puberty younger. This could also be affecting fertility rates. They mentioned this could effect testicular cancer. I wonder if high concentrations could effect other cancers like breast cancer. I’d like to read more of this study.
A more economical solution would be for women to always urinate into a pot, heat the urine and boil off the liquid, and then incinerate the residue.
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