§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies his Department carries out of the endocrine effects of pollutants, or industrially discharged chemicals, on marine mammals, shellfish or fish.
§ Mr. JackIndustrial discharge of chemicals to seas and rivers may only take place in accordance with consents or authorisations issued by the National Rivers Authority and Her Majesty"s inspectorate of pollution. The Ministry 387W carries out general pollution monitoring in the marine environment and has undertaken some research on levels of alkylphenolethoxylates and alkylphenols in river and estuarine waters. This research, funded by DOE, was to identify effects on caged male fish in rivers close to discharge points from sewage treatment works. Oestrogenic responses were observed close to discharge points but disappeared rapidly with distance downstream. Work is being carried out by the NRA to determine possible causes of the observed effects in fish. No work has been carried out on marine mammals. However, a further MAFF"funded programme of investigation on marine fish species is currently under consideration.