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12 Nov 1996
A new Environment Agency report published today (12.11.96) has called
on water companies to clean gender-bending (endocrine disrupting) chemicals
from the sewage effluent polluting UK rivers [1] . It has identified an
unexplained process whereby hormones present in sewage are activated during
the water companies' sewage treatment process.Even more worrying is the
confirmation of an "additive" effect whereby the "combined effect of the
hormones is greater than the sum of their individual effects."
However, the study only looked at domestic sewage catchment areas, avoiding
sites of significant industrial chemical pollution such as the River Aire.
The report acknowledges the need to look at some of these "industry related
hotspots" where there are high levels of chemicals used as detergents
and pesticides.
Roger Lilley, Industry and Pollution Campaigner at Friends of the Earth
said:
"This report confirms that we are looking at new and worrying sources
of pollution in the environment where existing knowledge is insufficient
to explain what is going on.
However, we must not use this as an excuse for inaction. The Government
must act to ensure that sources of these gender bending chemicals are
eradicated where possible or treatment systems modernised to nullify their
effect. We need regulation of this new breed of pollutants as well as
research."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] Environment Agency News Release "Research Identifies Oestrogenic
Compounds In Sewage Effluent" 95/96 12.11.1996.
[Index]
Contact details:
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N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
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