Pollution could be killing off male fish

University of Calgary researchers are studying waterways in southern Alberta, including the Sheep River, to determine the extent of damage pollution is having on fish populations.

Two Alberta rivers, the Old Man and Red Deer, have found to be contaminated with elevated levels of synthetic estrogens. Studies on fish populations in the Sheep River are already underway but the results won’t be known for at least a year.
Hamid Habibi, a professor of biological sciences with the University of Calgary, said typically the level of hormone contaminants increases as testing moves closer to urban areas and evidence of contamination is present in the Bow River.
“We don’t know the scale of this in terms of (fish) population in southern Alberta yet,” said Habibi. “Certainly the Bow River as it goes through Calgary, we do find some problems and downstream from Calgary, we find problems.”
Until studies are complete, Habibi couldn’t say whether the Sheep River contains elevated levels of hormone contaminants.
Habibi and his team studied the effects of hormone contaminants on population levels of a common species of minnow, the longnose dace. They found elevated levels of a protein normally found in female minnows producing eggs. In minnow populations downstream of Lethbridge and Fort Macleod, females outnumbered males 85 to 15. A normal gender ratio for minnows is normally 55 females to 45 males.
Researchers chose the longnose dace because they remain in one area for long periods giving scientists a clear picture of the state of water in the area.
“Really, by studying the fish, the fish is telling us what is going in that site,” said Habibi.
Elevated levels of synthetic hormones can lead to endocrine disruption in fish populations. That disruption can cause a drop in the number of male fish inevitably leading to a decline in populations.
Habibi and his team found chemicals such as natural hormones and synthetic hormones typically from birth control pills and bisphenol A, a chemical linked to cancer and elevated levels of estrogen in humans.
“We also find veterinary pharmaceuticals, which could from municipal sources but more likely from feedlots through the cattle,” said Habibi.
Alberta Environment spokesperson Cara Tobin said trace levels of contaminants have been found in wastewater and surface water in Alberta waterways. While Tobin said no studies have been completed on the Sheep River, it’s safe to assume humans are having an impact on all rivers in Alberta.
“It’s not unique to Alberta, this is something that’s happening across the globe,” said Tobin. “Anywhere where humans have an impact on their environment.”
The University of Calgary study was partly funded by Alberta Environment and it included the Bow, the North and South Saskatchewan, the Red Deer and the Old Man rivers.
Tobin said while Alberta has some the best water treatment facilities in Canada, improvements still need to be made to treat newer contaminants found in Alberta’s water systems.
“The reason that we are starting to detect these things now is because our technology is so much more advanced that we are able to detect it at very miniscule proportions,” said Tobin.
rnorthrop@okotoks.greatwest.ca
http://www.westernwheel.com/2010/news/pollution-could-be-killing-off-male-fish-8334