Targeting endocrine disruptors in Australia's waterways

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When the media reported the intriguing story of ‘gender bending’ chemicals causing fish in UK streams to develop male and female sex organs, research teams began to investigate the cause.

The gender benders, actually endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), were mainly natural and man-made hormones excreted by humans, and some industrial chemicals. Even in trace amounts, the EDCs alter levels of hormones and specific proteins. This in turn causes intersex (both male and female reproductive glands), imposex (females with male sex glands), reduced sperm counts, deformed sperm, and reduced production of viable eggs.