Fears over everyday chemicals

THE impact of “sex-change” chemicals could be as significant as climate change, scientists fear.

Researchers in Aberdeen studied the effect of low-dose mixtures of man-made hormone-altering chemicals on sheep.They observed a significant negative effect on fertility, measured by reduced sperm counts and decreased female egg production.

The endocrine disrupting chemicals are found in numerous household items, such as electrical equipment, furniture, plastic bags and bottles, personal care products, adhesives, paint and drugs. The chemicals have previously been shown to cause feminisation of male fish. The Aberdeen scientists compared two groups of sheep. One group were fed on pastures fertilised by sewage sludge containing endocrine disrupters. The other control group grazed on land fertilised with inorganic chemicals. The chemicals end up in sewage. The research was presented at the British Science Festival in Aberdeen yesterday by Dr Steward Rhind of the James Hutton Institute.