Cafe Scientifique: On the Pill? Pollution effects in aquatic organisms June 17, 2008

Jeanette Rotchell (University of Sussex)

"A range of human activities have been shown to be responsible for the release of pollutants into the environment. Many of these compounds can alter the health of humans and wildlife. This could damage the quality of life but also compromise the long term health of ecosystems and their recreational or economic value. A major source of such compounds is sewage effluent. In particular, compounds known as "endocrine disrupters" can disrupt the natural hormonal systems of humans and wildlife and cause damaging health effects such as cancer, behavioural changes and reproductive abnormalities and finally, in wild life populations, lead to loss of populations and biodiversity. These effects are a global concern.
I will describe our work on investigating the impact of such compounds in the Sussex/Kent/French coastal region. I will introduce some of the tools developed by us, and our French partners, to assess the threat of ‘endocrine disruption’, in freshwater and marine ecosystems."

7:30pm for an 8pm start.

Official Website: http://www.cafe-scientifique-brighton.org.uk/