Supplementary information on sludge and its disposal are available here

Oestrogenic compounds passing through sewage works can alter the physiology of organisms in the environment, in some rivers this has caused male fish to change so that their gonads contain female tissue. This is a condition known as intersex caused by 'Endocrine Disruption'. 

Some fish from the Mersey Estuary exhibit symptoms of  Endocrine Disruption although it has still not been linked to a specific cause. Information & links are available here

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