Hormones in birth control pills affect fish and waterways

The National Public Radio show "Living on Earth" interviewed Diana Aga about how the remnants of birth control pills can pass through wastewater treatment plants and wreak havoc on the environment. “Most treatment plants, they rely on highly active microorganisms to biodegrade all the organic chemicals there,” she says. She adds that plants are not designed to eliminate pharmaceuticals, like hormones found in birth control pills, and this can result in the “feminization” of male fish and other aquatic animals.