Archived press release

Mandelson's birds face hormone disruption threat

21 January 1998

The shock new Friends of the Earth evidence is published the day before an Environment Agency report on hormone disruptors in the wider environment. Friends of the Earth is campaigning against human exposure to these disruptors. FOE is demanding that ICI and other chemical companies cease production of these chemicals at once, and that the Government takes urgent action to protect wildlife sites such as the Teesmouth Flats and Marshes.

FOE's research shows that the chemicals being dumped are alkyphenol ethoxylates(APEs). At least 39 tonnes of APEs a year are discharged by ICI from its plant at Wilton,Teeside, during production of an industrial detergent. Sediments in the Tees Estuary contain up to 170 mg/kg of nonylphenol, the main alkylphenol used by ICI. Wildlife effects of APEs include a reduction in the size of testicles of exposed young male rainbow trout and production of a female egg yolk protein by male rainbow trout. Shorebirds such as the Knot eat invertebrates living in contaminated sediment. Research has shown that when mussels are exposed to nonylphenol it accumulates in their tissues, giving tissue concentrations of 3400 times those in the surrounding water. Molluscs are eaten by birds such as Shelduck. Researchers have found nonylphenol in Mallard Ducks.

Friends of the Earth first exposed the dangers of APEs in a report published in January 1995. Industry accepts that there are alternatives to these chemicals, and yet continue to manufacture them. ICI's discharges are polluting the Tees estuary at levels well above those that affect wildlife. ICI has just produced plans to reduce its emissions, but Friends of the Earth's analysis of these plans shows them to be totally inadequate.

ICI claims to be committed to environmental protection, through their membership of the'World Business Council for Sustainable Development'. Their 1996 Environmental Report said that “All escapes of hazardous materials can be prevented and emissions in the course of operation will be reduced towards zero progressively”. FOE describe this promise as “sheer hypocrisy”.

Dr Michael Warhurst, Industry and Pollution Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said today:

“Friends of the Earth's research reveals that ICI is probably discharging more of these hormone disrupting chemicals into the environment than anybody else.This pollution threatens what is meant to be an internationally protected wildlife site. The Government must take swift action to prevent ICI polluting this important nature reserve. Our research shows that ICI's commitments to the environment are sheer hypocrisy, if they truly cared for the environment they would cease production of these chemicals at once.”

[2] The report ' An environmental assessment of alkylphenol ethoxylates and alkylphenols', was published by Friends of the Earth in January 1995.

[3] The whole area of Teesmouth Flats and Marshes is a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, and is also a 'Special Protection Area'. It is an internationally important wildlife site, which the Government is obliged to protect. Three important Sites of Special Scientific Interest are present in the Tees estuary: Seaton Dunes and Common, Seal Sands, and South Gare and Coatham Sands. All three sites are internationally important for birds, birds found include:

• Up to 1800 Sanderling at Seaton, which is 5-7% of the west European population

• Up to 10, 000 Knot [a wading bird] at Seal Sands, which is 3-5% of the west European population.

• Up to 3,200 Shelduck at Seal Sands, which is about 2% of the total Western European population.

[Information from SSSI designation]
Seaton Dunes and Common SSSI is in Peter Mandelson's constituency, South Gare and Coatham Sands is in Mo Mowlam's constituency, and Seal Sands is in Frank Cook's constituency.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust