WaterTreatmentChina.com

TORONTO: A water treatment plant in Montreal is dumping 90 times the permissible critical limits of certain estrogen products into the river.

These are the findings of Liza Viglino, a post-doctoral student at the University of Montreal's department of chemistry, under the supervision of professors Sebastien Sauve and Michele Prevost.

The presence and effect of estrogen residues on aquatic wildlife are well documented. However, this research is unique because it didn't only consider natural hormones and those used in oral contraceptives - it also included products used in hormone therapy prescribed for menopausal women.

Data indicates that 128 million contraceptive pills and 107 million doses of hormone therapy are consumed every year in Quebec, reported Eurekalert.