Deformed otter penises raise concern for humans

By now, such things are getting boring. Sperm counts in human males have been declining around the world for years. Pollution is growing, causing various ills, we are devastating the whole earth for the sake of short-term profits for a few ultra-rich people. We are depleting our top soil and drinkable water supplies rapidly. We have known about these problems for decades. And we choose not to do enough about these problems because it would inconvenience us.

http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/26/17104025-deformed-otter-penises-raise-concern-for-humans?lite

Feb. 26, 2013
By Marc Lallanilla

Scientists are concerned about the deformed sex organs of England's otters — and what it might mean for humans.

The furry mammals are found in rivers throughout Britain, but male otters aren't what they used to be. An alarming number of them now have shrunken penis bones (baculum), as well as undescended testicles (cryptorchidism) and cysts on sperm-carrying tubes, according to a new report written by Cardiff University scientists.

The results are based on analyses of samples from 755 otter carcasses collected around England and Wales between 1992 and 2009.

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Though scientists aren't yet able to identify a single cause for the deformed sex organs, one leading suspect is a class of chemical pollutants known as endocrine disruptors.

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Though scientists are still sifting through the evidence, there are many researchers who believe the prevalence of endocrine disruptors might be linked to a worldwide drop in sperm quality and quantity in humans.

As the top predator in England's rivers and lakes, the BBC reports, otters are an indicator species whose health reveals much about the well-being of the entire aquatic ecosystem. Health problems discovered in otters, Chadwick said, "could be a warning for all mammals really, which include us humans."

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