10:17 AM MST on Monday, November 29, 2004

Assocaited Press

MOSCOW - A University of Idaho scientist is working on a new patent to clean up chemicals from sewer systems that can harm male reproductive organs.

The chemicals are called endocrine disrupters. And they're finding their way into the environment via the bathroom toilet.

Moller says up to 90 percent of the estrogen in birth control pills can pass through the body relatively unchanged. Many soaps also contain an estrogen-like substance.

Once released, the chemicals can cause sex changes in salmon, frogs and oysters. In more serious cases, it can lead to partially developed genitals in human males.

Moller says his treatment uses advanced oxidation techniques to chemically incinerate the unwanted compounds.