Title: 
Effects of Pollutants on the Reproductive Health of Male Vertebrate Wildlife - Males Under Threat
Publication Date: 
December 2008
Abstract: 
This paper provides a review of the reported effects on the reproductive health of male vertebrate wildlife, which are known or suspected to be associated with pollutants. Males of species from each of the main classes of animals in the vertebrate sub-phylum (including bony fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) have been affected by chemicals in the environment, particularly chemicals with hormone disrupting properties. Man made chemicals that can disrupt the male and/or female sex hormone may adversely affect the ability of an organism to reproduce, although chemicals which affect reproduction by other mechanisms are also of concern. All vertebrates have similar sex hormone receptors, which have been conserved in evolution. Therefore, observations in one vertebrate wildlife species, may serve to highlight pollution issues of concern for other vertebrates, including humans. Indeed, given the widespread presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment, effects are likely to be occurring in more species than those currently reported. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) de-rail the body’s chemical messenger system, the hormones, and therefore this term is used interchangeably with the term ‘hormone disruptors’. Auxiliary signalling chemicals such as enzymes, growth factors, and so forth, may also be disrupted. There is much “cross talk” in the body, and, for example, pollutant related disruption of brain neurochemistry can be an early step in reproductive impairment (Basu and Head, 2008). The mounting concern is such that between 1998 -2007 the European Commission invested 161 million Euros into research into the phenomenon of endocrine disruption.
Authors: 
Gwynne Lyons
Organization: 
CHEM Trust
Source Type: 
NGO/Civil Society
Resource Type: 
Report
Number of Pages: 
43
Geographic Focus: 
International