America: Potomac River water polluted changes the sex of fish

According to the Washington Post, male fish become bisexual and carry eggs found in polluted water of the Potomac River through Washington DC and provide water to residents.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has discovered this phenomenon for many years while beginning to understand the cause of many fish deaths in 2004.

'Through microscopy, we noted that male fish carry unfertilized eggs, which is of course unrelated to their deaths , ' said Vicki Blazer, a fish disease expert leading the investigation. USGS said.

The findings have been confirmed in 2005 and 2006 on healthy and raw fish of the same species of freshwater catfish. This is a fish found in the Potomac River and tributaries with a length of 17cm to 30cm, sometimes consumed by anglers.

Potomac water supply companies supply clean water to residents in the area.

According to Ms Blazer, these pollutants are often ingredients that act as oestrogene. They come from pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pesticides and herbicides.

Dead fish on the Potomac River (Photo: mccullagh)

Power