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Culprits identified for sewage's oestrogenic effects
Volume 34/Number 1/January 1997
Best Practice in English Coastal Zone Management The UK Department of Environment has published the latest in a series of documents dealing with coastal zone management issues. Coastal Zone Management." Towards Best Practice, (October, 1996) is aimed at all those interested in managing the coast and focuses on both general principles and management techniques. The guide recognizes that there is much coastal management activity in England but points out that, as yet, few initiatives have been fully implemented and fewer still have observed principles of integrated CZM. CZM, it is suggested, should operate within a framework that emphasizes principles of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, the precautionary approach, integrated management, self-regulation and sensitivity to local circumstances. Numerous examples of interesting initiatives are outlined along with suggestions regarding possible improvements to current practice. Particular emphasis is placed on the need for different actors, agencies and levels of government to work together and seek consensus. Communication and information sharing are obvious pre-requisites for such co-operation and these issues are also discussed, Overall, this appears to be a useful document although the fact that it deals only with the English coast suggests that integration with Scottish and Welsh CZM also need some attention. DAVID N O W E L L
Water Legislation to be Simplified The numerous and at times confusing legislation concerning European water quality is to receive an extensive overhaul. The current basic measures date back to 1978 and many further additions have been made to them since. This collection of legislation is to be replaced by a new framework directive to try to simplify the plethora of detail. The EU Environment Commissioner, Ritt Bjerregaard will present new proposals in January, 1997. She is hoping to establish a higher standard of water quality by simplifying the measures. Many believe that the legislation had become so complex that it was actually hindering the development of high water quality across Europe. A review by the assembly's Environment Committee had found evidence of falling water quality. The report stated that 66% of rivers and lakes in Europe had higher nitrate levels while pesticide levels were being exceeded in 75% of the EU's agricultural regions. It appeared that in some cases the limits set by the legislation were being used as
a licence to pollute up to that set level rather than promoting a minimal pollution attitude.
Culprits Identified for Sewage's Oestrogenic Effects After three years and £250,000, researchers working for the UK Environment Agency have found evidence that the oestrogenic substances present in sewage effluents are predominantly natural oestrogens, according to a report in the October edition of ENDS. In the past few years, there has been a growing concern regarding the oestrogenic effects of a number of man-made chemicals, such as alkyl phenols and phthalates, commonly found in industrial effluents. It was suspected that these chemicals were responsible for the hormonal imbalance frequently observed in fish exposed to discharges from sewage treatment works, and considerable scientific evidence proved that these chemicals can indeed act as oestrogen mimics. Other research has shown that sewage effluent is capable of provoking an oestrogenic response in fish. The objective of this recent study, which was directed by Dr Geoff Brighty of the Environment Agency's laboratories in Peterborough, was to positively identify the substances responsible for sewage's oestrogenic activity. Sewage effluent is a complex mixture of a huge number of compounds, many only present in very small concentrations. The research team laboriously isolated and identified the sewage fraction responsible for 90% of the oestrogenic activity. Most of this activity was caused by three steroids present: oestrone and 1713oestradiol which are natural oestrogens, and the synthetic oestrogen ethinyl oestradiol. Human excretion products are believed to be the most likely source of these compounds. Humans and other mammals excrete oestrogen in inactive forms, which seem to be converted back into active hormones during the course of sewage treatment. A project is currently underway to investigate this phenomenon. The synthetic oestrogen also detected in sewage, ethinyl oestradiol, is used in oral contraceptives, and this is where it is presumed to originate from. Interestingly, early research has suggested that fish may be particularly responsive to this synthetic hormone, and therefore its significance, despite being present in comparatively low levels, cannot be ignored. Research has been instigated to examine oestrogen removal during water treatment and also to study the effects of sewage treatment on oestrogen concentrations. Initial results show water treatment to be very effective in removing oestrogens. SHIRLEY HENDERSON
Best Practice in English Coastal Zone Management The UK Department of Environment has published the latest in a series of documents dealing with coastal zone management issues. Coastal Zone Management." Towards Best Practice, (October, 1996) is aimed at all those interested in managing the coast and focuses on both general principles and management techniques. The guide recognizes that there is much coastal management activity in England but points out that, as yet, few initiatives have been fully implemented and fewer still have observed principles of integrated CZM. CZM, it is suggested, should operate within a framework that emphasizes principles of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, the precautionary approach, integrated management, self-regulation and sensitivity to local circumstances. Numerous examples of interesting initiatives are outlined along with suggestions regarding possible improvements to current practice. Particular emphasis is placed on the need for different actors, agencies and levels of government to work together and seek consensus. Communication and information sharing are obvious pre-requisites for such co-operation and these issues are also discussed, Overall, this appears to be a useful document although the fact that it deals only with the English coast suggests that integration with Scottish and Welsh CZM also need some attention. DAVID N O W E L L
Water Legislation to be Simplified The numerous and at times confusing legislation concerning European water quality is to receive an extensive overhaul. The current basic measures date back to 1978 and many further additions have been made to them since. This collection of legislation is to be replaced by a new framework directive to try to simplify the plethora of detail. The EU Environment Commissioner, Ritt Bjerregaard will present new proposals in January, 1997. She is hoping to establish a higher standard of water quality by simplifying the measures. Many believe that the legislation had become so complex that it was actually hindering the development of high water quality across Europe. A review by the assembly's Environment Committee had found evidence of falling water quality. The report stated that 66% of rivers and lakes in Europe had higher nitrate levels while pesticide levels were being exceeded in 75% of the EU's agricultural regions. It appeared that in some cases the limits set by the legislation were being used as
a licence to pollute up to that set level rather than promoting a minimal pollution attitude.
Culprits Identified for Sewage's Oestrogenic Effects After three years and £250,000, researchers working for the UK Environment Agency have found evidence that the oestrogenic substances present in sewage effluents are predominantly natural oestrogens, according to a report in the October edition of ENDS. In the past few years, there has been a growing concern regarding the oestrogenic effects of a number of man-made chemicals, such as alkyl phenols and phthalates, commonly found in industrial effluents. It was suspected that these chemicals were responsible for the hormonal imbalance frequently observed in fish exposed to discharges from sewage treatment works, and considerable scientific evidence proved that these chemicals can indeed act as oestrogen mimics. Other research has shown that sewage effluent is capable of provoking an oestrogenic response in fish. The objective of this recent study, which was directed by Dr Geoff Brighty of the Environment Agency's laboratories in Peterborough, was to positively identify the substances responsible for sewage's oestrogenic activity. Sewage effluent is a complex mixture of a huge number of compounds, many only present in very small concentrations. The research team laboriously isolated and identified the sewage fraction responsible for 90% of the oestrogenic activity. Most of this activity was caused by three steroids present: oestrone and 1713oestradiol which are natural oestrogens, and the synthetic oestrogen ethinyl oestradiol. Human excretion products are believed to be the most likely source of these compounds. Humans and other mammals excrete oestrogen in inactive forms, which seem to be converted back into active hormones during the course of sewage treatment. A project is currently underway to investigate this phenomenon. The synthetic oestrogen also detected in sewage, ethinyl oestradiol, is used in oral contraceptives, and this is where it is presumed to originate from. Interestingly, early research has suggested that fish may be particularly responsive to this synthetic hormone, and therefore its significance, despite being present in comparatively low levels, cannot be ignored. Research has been instigated to examine oestrogen removal during water treatment and also to study the effects of sewage treatment on oestrogen concentrations. Initial results show water treatment to be very effective in removing oestrogens. SHIRLEY HENDERSON