this is a copy from news.com.au

CHEMICAL contamination from farm runoff has been blamed after millions of fish larvae in the Noosa River were found to have grown two heads.

The disfigured larvae are thought to have been affected by one of two popular farm chemicals, either the insecticide endosulphan or the fungicide carbendazim, the Courier Mail reports.

Former NSW fisheries scientist and aquaculture veterinarian Matt Landos yesterday called on the Federal Government to ban the chemicals and urgently find replacements.

Dr Landos said about 90 per cent of larvae spawned at the Sunland Fish Hatchery from bass taken from the river were deformed and all died within 48 hours.

"It certainly looks like the fish have been exposed to something in the river," Dr Landos said.

"I wouldn't like to be having kids and living next to a place that uses these chemicals and I wouldn't like to be drinking tank water where they are in use."

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Hatchery owner Gwen Gilson blames chemicals used by macadamia farmers near her Boreen Point business for the deformities.

"Some embryos split into two heads, some had two equal heads and a small tail and some had one big long head and a small tail coming out of the head," she said.

Farmers nearby declined to comment.

Dr Landos said the chemicals were potentially human carcinogens and could have entered the river through any number of sources such as spraying or run-off even though there was no evidence of improper use.

Carbendazim had a history of causing embryonic defects and had been banned in the US, while endosulphan was banned in New Zealand.

"These chemicals mess up cell development," he said. "There's no other plausible explanation for what's going on."

Biosecurity Queensland chief Ron Glanville said an investigation into the claims started two years ago.

No evidence of chemicals used on an adjoining property were found in water, fish, fish eggs, chooks and horse samples.

"These things are notoriously hard to track down," he said.

Dr Landos and Dr Glanville said there was no danger for people either swimming or eating fish from the Noosa River because if chemicals were in the water, levels would likely be exceedingly low.

The Federal Environment Department has been asked to investigate.

Two heads, what's wrong with that?

"Dr Landos and Dr Glanville said there was no danger for people either swimming or eating fish from the Noosa River because if chemicals were in the water, levels would likely be exceedingly low. "

There's no danger as long as you don't mind having two heads!

This is not good, anything that has this sort of effect on the fish has got to have downstream implications (no pun intended).

They've been using it in Tasmainia for years....

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easty said...

Two heads, what's wrong with that?

LMAO

BTW, I've never seen a Tasweigian with 2 heads......just a scar on the neck where they cut the second one off at birth!


Back on topic.....sounds a bit like Springfield to me!

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Sailhack said...

.....sounds a bit like Springfield to me!

Thats fiiish with three eyes

omg!!!! Evolution!!!

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Susie said...

omg!!!! Evolution!!!

no it's God !!!

And recently, the push by some people to have endosulfan banned was over-ruled. Even though it is banned in most countries, Australia knows best again... like a lot of the colourings and flavourings in foods that FSANZ reckon are safe but everyone else has banned 'em.

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Mark _australia said...

And recently, the push by some people to have endosulfan banned was over-ruled. Even though it is banned in most countries, Australia knows best again... like a lot of the colourings and flavourings in foods that FSANZ reckon are safe but everyone else has banned 'em.

It's a conspiracy.. part of a government plot to keep the masses stupid.

De-volution. Survival of the dumbest.

Just in case the welfare state wasn't enough already.

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Susie said...

omg!!!! Evolution!!!

yes, it is evolution. so was chernobyl.....

god, well he evolved from gilgamesh....... [}:)]

Gilgamesh ???? then where do the Flintstones fit in on the time line ??? (and where was ancient Bedrock ??)

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Richiefish said...

Gilgamesh ???? then where do the Flintstones fit in on the time line ??? (and where was ancient Bedrock ??)

you know, the list of king's???????

if only we could find atlantis. no 2 headed fish there.

back on topic........ i'm ok wit hthe 2 headed fish. it's the 2 headed sharks that wory me a little.

one bite takes both legs.

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Greenroom said...

Thats fiiish with three eyes

I see what you did there......3 iii's.....as in 3 'eyes'.....that's clever.

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Waiting4wind said...

"Dr Landos and Dr Glanville said there was no danger for people either swimming or eating fish from the Noosa River because if chemicals were in the water, levels would likely be exceedingly low. "

There's no danger as long as you don't mind having two heads!

This is not good, anything that has this sort of effect on the fish has got to have downstream implications (no pun intended).

Not so mate- mutagenicity and teratology are largely dependant on method and amount of exposure. Carbendazim is highly toxic to aquatic life, therefore the exposure is so limited and likely continued that it has caused genetic damage but not killed the fish. You have to ingest quite a bit of the stuff for it to have affect on humans, and just remember what it is used for in the first place... whilst fruit/nuts is washed you would likely ingest far greater amounts by touching and eating the that than eating the fish.

Fish hatcheries have their own questionable methods and environmental impacts before they start pointing the finger too much.

but going back to Simpsons wisdom, would YOU eat the mutant fish ????

That is dependant upon what made the fish that way in the first place.

But probably no, the fish should be kept for prosperity- it could actually be evolution in action and people are destroying that process.

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easty said...

Two heads, what's wrong with that?

as long as there isnt a fish with two a$$'s we will be ok!

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sflack said...

easty said...

Two heads, what's wrong with that?

as long as there isnt a fish with two a$$'s we will be ok!

yeah that would be funny seeing a fish with 2 donkeys growing out of it.

they would probably just drown anyways.......

unless they were seahorses

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Gestalt said...

sflack said...

easty said...

Two heads, what's wrong with that?

as long as there isnt a fish with two a$$'s we will be ok!

yeah that would be funny seeing a fish with 2 donkeys growing out of it.

they would probably just drown anyways.......

unless they were seahorses

Now that's something to mule over

so I figure an ass has seven holes (female ass eight) ?????[}:)]

clearly our qld humour has been put out to pasture.

a bit of flouride in the noosa will fixit

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Haircut said...

a bit of flouride in the noosa will fixit

Two Heads, twice as many teeth, twice as much fluoride needed?
I hear hydrochloric acid does a good job too

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sailpilot said...

Haircut said...

a bit of flouride in the noosa will fixit

Two Heads, twice as many teeth, twice as much fluoride needed?
I hear hydrochloric acid does a good job too

hydrochloric acid can also used to disolve artery plaque, kills the aids virus (or any virus for that matter),kills cancer cells,cures leperosy,it even gets rid of pimples and rough dry elbows !! In fact it will solve ALL your problems...simply soak in a bathtub full of concerntrated hydrochloric acid for a few hours or till symptoms disappear !!!