Analysis of Endocrine Disruption in Southern California Coastal Fish Using an Aquatic Multispecies Microarray (original) (raw)
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Water
Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) as emerging contaminants have accumulated in the aquatic environment at concentration levels that have been determined to be significant to humans and animals. Several compounds belong to this family, from natural substances (hormones such as estrone, 17-estradiol, and estriol) to synthetic chemicals, especially pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and plastic-derived compounds (phthalates, bisphenol A). In this review, we discuss recent works regarding EDC occurrence in the aquatic compartment, strengths and limitations of current analytical methods used for their detection, treatment technologies for their removal from water, and the health issues that they can trigger in humans. Nowadays, many EDCs have been identified in significant amounts in different water matrices including drinking water, thus increasing the possibility of entering the food chain. Several studies correlate human exposure to high concentrations of EDCs with serious effects such ...
Alkylphenols and Bisphenol A as Environmental Estrogens
The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, 2001
A diverse number of chemicals present in the environment may be detrimental to the development and reproduction of wildlife and humans. These chemicals exert their effect through mimicking endogenous estrogens. Two xenoestrogens that are currently produced in large volumes are alkylphenols and bisphenol A (BPA). These chemicals demonstrate estrogenic activity; they increase the proliferation of estrogen target cells, induce estrogen-specific genes and reporter genes, increase the wet weight of the uterus, and induce proliferation of the epithelium in the endometrium and vagina. Alkylphenols are widely distributed through their use as antioxidants and in the synthesis of alkylphenol polyethoxylates for detergents. The release of these chemicals into natural waters and wastewater treatment plants results in exposure of aquatic wildlife. The extent of exposure to non-aquatic organisms is unknown, but it is likely that exposure occurs in species that eat contaminated fish. Humans are exposed primarily through the use of spermicides containing nonoxynol. BPA is used in the packaging of food and beverages, and in health-related products. This chemical and its derivatives leach from such polycarbonate and epoxy resin products leading to exposure of humans predominantly. Evidence from field studies and laboratory experiments indicate that alkylphenols and BPA have the potential to cause ecological problems and affect human health. Degradation products of alkylphenol polyethoxylates have caused feminization of fish in effluent polluted rivers, and can alter reproductive parameters in rodents. BPA is able to induce feminization of neonatal amphibia, proliferative activity in the uterus and mammary glands, alterations in the neuroendocrine axis, and compromise fertility. In utero exposure to this chemical causes alterations in the onset of sexual maturity in females and changes in the development of male reproductive organs. The most disturbing findings reveal that low doses of BPA, which are physiologically relevant to human exposure, cause the most profound biological effects. These data attest to the urgent need for re-evaluating issues of production, use, and waste treatment programs pertaining to all endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Environmental Contamination and Human Exposure to Select Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: A Review
Sustainable Chemistry
Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are exogenous compounds that interfere with the normal hormone functions and ultimately lead to health disorders. Parabens, phenols, and phthalates are well-known EDCs, produced globally in large quantities and widely used in a variety of applications. Several studies have monitored these compounds in a variety of environmental matrices, including air, water, sediment, fish, human tissues, soil, indoor dust, and biosolids, etc. In recent years, environmental contamination and human exposure to these chemicals have become a great concern, due to their residue levels exceeding the permissible/acceptable limits. In this review, we focus on the origin of these EDCs, aquatic contamination pathways, distribution, human exposure, health implications, and healthcare costs. Further, this review identifies critical challenges and future research needs in removing or minimizing environmental contamination and exposure to these chemicals to protect living r...
African Journal of Aquatic Science, 2020
This is the final version of the article that is published ahead of the print and online issue Xenoestrogens are substances that are similar in chemical composition and structure to steroidal oestrogens, hence they mimic and compete with them, e.g. by binding onto the hormonal receptors in animals such as fish (Roszko et al. 2018; Kanda 2019). In female vertebrates, oestrogens occur in three major forms; oestrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3), and serve as primary reproductive hormones (Burgos-Aceves et al. 2016; Ashfaq et al. 2019). These hormonal substances have C18 steroidal groups, which are characterised by tetracyclic molecular frameworks of cyclopentane, phenol and two cyclohexanes. Interestingly, this conformation also forms the four ring structures of xenoestrogens (Khanal et al. 2006). The structures of the three hormones (E1, E2 and E3) are named based on the conformational arrangement on C16 and C17. For example, the structure of the 17β-estradiol has two hydroxyl groups, one at position C3, and the other at the 17β position (Figure 1). Therefore, based on the presence of hydroxyl groups, estradiol has been named as E2. E2 is the predominant female sex hormone produced in follicles of ovaries and it is used specifically in vertebrates for the development and maintenance of reproductive tissue, bone, fat and hepatocytes. The E2 synthesis in ovarian follicular cells involves the production of androstenedione, which is converted into oestrone by aromatase and finally into estradiol through a process catalysed by a series of different enzymes (Cui et al. 2013). Moreover, the liver is another site for biosynthesis of the natural oestrogens; it is also the main site for their further biotransformation. Once the oestrogens are synthesised by aromatase in the liver, they are released into circulation. However, in vertebrates, including fish, oestrogens are taken up again by the liver where they are biotransformed into different metabolites under series of enzymes. The quantity and specific type of oestrogen excreted naturally in animals varies, depending mainly on the animal's physiology, reproductive cycle and age. For example, pregnant women and lactating mothers discharge approximately five mg d-1 of 17β-estradiol (Guang-Guo et al. 2002; Khanal et al. 2006), whereas prenatal dairy cows may excrete up to 11.4 mg d-1 of 17α-ethinylestradiol (Khanal et al. 2006). Furthermore, at least 7.0 µg oestrone, 15.2 µg estriol, and 2.4 µg 17β-estradiol have been estimated to be excreted in urine daily by a young woman at the end of the lactating period (Adlercreutz et al. 1986; Liu et al. 2004). As such, oestrogens are continually flushed down in wastewater from homes, hospitals, and abattoirs, and drain into the natural aquatic ecosystems, such as lakes and rivers (Table 1). For pharmaceutical and medical purposes, steroidal estrogenic chemicals like 17α-ethinylestradiol,
Endocrine active industrial chemicals: Release and occurrence in the environment
Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2003
Of the xenobiotic endocrine active substances (EASs), tributyltin (TBT) has had the clearest link to an impact on aquatic ecology. Its release from marine antifouling paints had a drastic impact on dogwhelk populations in polluted harbors due to a masculization effect. 4-tert-Nonylphenol is seen as the most significant of the industrial xenobiotic estrogen mimics, being implicated as the dominant endocrine disruptor in certain industrialized river reaches. Apart from hot spots associated with particular industries, the estrogenic alkylphenols, phthalates, and bisphenol A are present in effluent and receiving water at concentrations below that which would give cause for concern. Other more bioaccumulative compounds such as polybrominated flame retardants, dioxins, and furans may possess some endocrine active properties. The possibility of additivity effects may yet mean that low concentrations of xenobiotic EASs will need careful consideration. It is noted that considerable quantities of many of these compounds are often found in sewage sludge and sediments.
Studies on the occurrence and quantification of phenolic endocrine disruptors in water
2009
Global climate change has resulted in increasing advocacy for sustainable development. With continuing decline in freshwater resources, our generation is confronted with challenges in the wise use of this important natural resource. Population growth, urbanization, industrial development and associated changes in agricultural and other land use practices are inevitable activities for economic growth. Unfortunately, each of these either depletes (the quantity) or reduces the quality of freshwaters. An important class of pollutants in waters are endocrine disruptors which include phthalates, phenols and some metals. Phenols are particularly important because of their many exposure routes to man and the environment. The need to regularly assess these impacts and possibly, minimize them therefore, becomes imperative. This paper therefore reviews the different routes of phenols to man and the aquatic environment; their analysis as well as different abatement studies in water.