North London Euro MP Pauline Green is calling for tough action on chemicals which are mutating wildlife in the River Lea and posing a threat to humans.

A class of substances known as endocrine disrupters was first discovered by anglers on the river who told of catching fish which shared sexual characteristics.

It was widely reported that something in the water was turning male fish into females.

Other cases in the world led to scientists identifying that chemicals used in many plastics, paints and pesticides could also act like the female hormone oestrogen.

Further studies have led to fears that endocrine disrupters were responsible for a drop in the sperm count among men in areas of London while other reports suggest links to breast cancer and testicular cancer.

Ms Green commented: "I don't want to scaremonger because we hear a lot about environmental scares these days, but I am concerned about the problem because of the implications for my constituents."

She is calling for EU pollution controls and legislation to control endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

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