http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/bs-gr-fish-20101102,0,4595447.story
In Pennsylvania, US, "intersex" fish are cropping up. These male small mouth bass have female traits. Over 90% tested have immature eggs. Scientists are looking into this abnormality of nature. What is causing these mutations? Arigcultural run off or consumer products such as medicines are linked to it. Vicki Blazer, a fishery biologist with US Geographical Survey, has seen other cases like this when studying the Potomac watershed. It came to her attention when she was studying bacterial infections in the fish. Not only are they mutating but newly hatched fish are dying. Blazer links this to hormonal chemicals dumped around agricultural and developed areas. Herbicides containing atrazine is a main culprit. Syngenta, a company that produces it claims that tests from the 1970's show that it does no harm to the fish. To solve this troubling dilemma scientists are studying fish chronically exposed to chemicals in herbicides and other pollution.
To progress further in research scientists need to conduct more tests with chemicals and how they affect fish. The article also mention that there may be a direct link to a change in diet.
No comments:
Post a Comment