Hey /sci/, I'm in the process of writing a fictional novel, but I want to make the subject matter as believable or at least as realistic as possible (trying to avoid the "...and then some magic happens" bs). I had an idea for a water source that gets contaminated with anabolic steroids/growth hormones/etc, but I need a way to explain it without using the magic trope. Are there conditions where steroids could occur in "nature" (obviously I can bend some logic to make the variables work), even if it's a perfect storm-type situation.

Obviously I'm not a chemistry major, and everything I can think of just amounts to bullshitting, so I thought I'd ask you guys since I imagine one of you knows the process to make steroids. I also know a lot of them are just naturally occuring chemicals in our bodies anyways, and steroids just kind of supplement those processes, but I kind of need it to be from an external source for it to work. Just saying the animals have a chemical imbalance which allows them to pack on gains doesn't really do it for me.

Thanks for your help and patience in advance, I realize to the informed/educated this request probably sounds pretty stupid