Threatened aquatic species

Aquatic animals, such as fish and amphibians, are continuously in contact with water. They cannot avoid pollutants in the water, which are taken up through the skin, gills and food.

Many older sewage facilities cannot break down certain chemicals and hormones in pharmaceuticals, perfumes and other synthetic substances entering the wastewater stream. These can cause mutations in the reproductive cells, threatening some species of frogs and fish with extinction.