Potomac Conservancy Petitions Congress for Intersex Fish Research

[MountainLaurel]

Yeah, that might be something good to look into, before 80% of the little boys in the Potomac watershed are also born with female parts.

The Potomac Conservancy presented U.S. Rep. James P. Moran, D-Va., Sept. 30 with more than 5,000 signatures of residents concerned with pollutants in the Potomac River and the region’s drinking water supply.

The conservancy’s Fish Mystery campaign, launched in April 2010, calls for research into why more than 80 percent of male smallmouth bass in the Potomac River are exhibiting female traits, such as eggs.

Chemicals that mimic hormones and disrupt the endocrine system are suspected to be the leading cause of this “intersex” condition. The chemicals include substances common to everyday life, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides and fertilizers.

With almost 90 percent of the region’s drinking water drawn from the Potomac River, the quality of local water and its impact on people — particularly children — is a top concern.

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=86978