Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Ben Wallace (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 March 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 March 2006. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 March 2006 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

River Pollution

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies her Department has commissioned into the effects on fish of endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Answer

My Department has commissioned extensive research to improve our understanding of the possible effects on fish caused by exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.For the freshwater environment, we have made a considerable contribution to collaborative investigations into the potential impacts of sewage effluents on two common lowland fish species, roach and gudgeon. A further study, part of the EDIT (Endocrine Disruption in Invertebrates and Top Predators) Programme, costing around 0.5million in total, has been conducted on the top predator, pike. A new collaborative research programme (EDCAT-Endocrine Disruption in Catchments) has recently been commissioned to look into possible impacts of endocrine disrupting sewage discharges on roach and sticklebacks at the population level; EDCAT will cost around £1.4 million in its initial phase alone.We have established specific programmes of research on endocrine disruption in the marine environment, including the £1.5 million EDMAR (Endocrine Disruption in the Marine Environment) Programme, which conducted studies on flounder, goby, blenny and migratory trout and salmon. Additional research has focused on cod.Work is now being conducted to develop an understanding of the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals upon sensitive stages in the development of fish and to establish international test protocols for screening new chemicals for endocrine disrupting effects using the stickleback. The latter forms part of the Endocrine Disruption in Aquatic Ecosystems (EDAQ) Programme, costing over £1 million.Two studies on fish also form part of the core projects of the UK-Japan research collaboration agreement on endocrine disruption in aquatic systems.Further information on completed Defra endocrine disruption research projects is available from the Defra website at:"http://www2.defra.gov.uk/research/project_data/Default.asp"

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
59685; 444 c1003W
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Pollution Water
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk