What's happening to the birds and bees?

Apparently, boys are turning into girls at the rate of one in three. This is the conclusion not of a night out in Bangkok but of a national survey of Britain's rivers. And the future's not looking good for the lads.

A third of male fish in the 42 rivers surveyed by the Environment Agency this year had female reproductive organs. The figure was even higher among younger fish. This could lead to extinction of some species. Seals, dolphins and otters are all feared at risk.

Toxicologists blame hormone disrupting chemicals and accuse the government of underestimating the risk. Female hormones in plastics, packaging and products such as shampoo are disrupting the natural growth of the males of the species resulting in smaller testicles, lower sex drives and female gender characteristics. As well as in fish, the problem has been observed in birds and bees.

Government has 'grossly underestimated' the risk from chemicals University of London toxicologist Andreas Kortenkamp told The Observer. Over 550 chemicals would could disrupt hormonal development can be used quite legally in Europe. Experts have called for the possible effects of a  cocktail of these chemicals to be properly examined.

All this could be foretaste of the fate of the human male. Falling male sperm count has also been attributed to an excess of female hormones. The by-products of the contraceptive pill have been blamed.

We all know men who were not bothered about lung cancer but tried to give up smoking when they heard it could make them impotent. If that's the case, this should be the biggest recruiting campaign for the environmental cause ever.