Endocrine Disruptor Impacts on Fish From Chile: The Influence of Wastewaters (original) (raw)
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Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2006
Caging experiments were conducted using hatchery-reared, immature, female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in three previously defined areas of the Biobio River (south central Chile) representing a pollution gradient from the pulp and paper mill discharges area: a pre-impact area (upstream area, reference location), an impact area (area directly influenced), and a postimpact area (downstream area, less influenced). No significant changes were observed in the physiological index as represented by condition factor (K) and liver somatic index during different sampling times (after 11, 21, and 30 d of exposure). Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activities were significantly higher in trout caged at the impact and postimpact discharges areas (two-to fourfold) compared with the reference (pre-impact) area, and a strong inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity, reaching 50%, was observed mainly in fish caged at the impact area. A significant endocrine-disrupting effect (reproductive level) was evidenced by significant increments in gonad somatic index and plasma vitellogenin levels combined with an induction of gonad maturation (presence of vitellogenic oocytes) in trout caged at the impact and postimpact areas. These results, generated by an in situ approach, confirmed our group's findings for trout exposed to sediment in the laboratory: discharges of pulp mill effluent in the Biobio River are associated with the effects evaluated at different biological levels.
Screening of endocrine disruption activity in sediments from the Uruguay River
Ecotoxicology, 2014
8 Abstract Sediment constitutes an important sink of 9 endocrine disruptor compounds; however, the potential of 10 sediments to act as a source of endocrine disruptors should 11 be more extensively investigated. The main objective of 12 this study was to determine whether exposure of immature 13 common carp to Uruguay River sediments undergo phys-14 iological and endocrine alterations. The lower Uruguay 15 River watershed supports intensive agricultural and forest 16 production, receives municipal sewage discharge and 17 industrial effluent, and a new large pulp mill was con-18 structed in 2006. A 30-day semi-static assay was performed 19 using sediments from four sites along the Uruguay River 20 and compared with an unexposed group in dechlorinated 21 water as a negative control. We focused on two upstream 22 and two downstream sites of a new elemental chlorine free 23 pulp mill. The results showed that plasma vitellogenin 24 levels increased in fish along the river and significant dif-25 ferences were found between the exposed and unexposed 26 groups. Condition factor and gonadosomatic index were 39
Science of The Total Environment, 2009
Endocrine disorders associated with sewage effluents have been documented in aquatic species from various regions of the world and sewage treatment works (STWs) are now widely recognized as one of the major discharge source of endocrine disrupting compounds. Steroid estrogens usually emerge as the main contributors to the endocrine disrupting capacity of municipal sewage effluents. Because human wastes are believed to be the primary source of release of steroid estrogens in watercourses, the presence of these compounds in aquatic systems is likely to constitute a pervasive ecological problem. In spite of that, the endocrine disrupting impact of sewage effluents has rarely been investigated in South America. In this paper, we used Johnson and Williams' predictive model to estimate the concentration of steroid estrogens in effluents released from 38 municipal STWs of central-southern Chile and to assess steroid estrogen concentrations in rivers. In STW effluents, we estimated the estrogen concentrations to range from 9.35 to 739.92 ng/L for estrone, 1.03 to 81.74 ng/L for estradiol and 0.38 to 30.56 ng/L for ethynylestradiol. Overall, the predicted estrogen concentrations are significantly higher than those reported for STW effluents in the literature. This can be explained by demographic and sewage flow differences between Chile and industrialized western countries. Predicted steroid estrogen concentrations at river sites indicate that endocrine disruption in fish is likely to occur in the Itata catchment. However, future research is needed to attest this and to evaluate the real impact of the STW discharges into central-southern Chile's marine and freshwater environments.
Environmental Science & Technology, 2012
Steroid estrogens are thought to be the major cause of feminization (intersex) in wild fish. Widely used wastewater treatment technologies are not effective at removing these contaminants to concentrations thought to be required to protect aquatic wildlife. A number of advanced treatment processes have been proposed to reduce the concentrations of estrogens entering the environment. Before investment is made in such processes, it is imperative that we compare their efficacy in terms of removal of steroid estrogens and their feminizing effects with other treatment options. This study assessed both steroid removal and intersex induction in adult and early life stage fish (roach, Rutilus rutilus). Roach were exposed directly to either secondary (activated sludge process (ASP)), tertiary (sand filtrated (SF)), or advanced (chlorine dioxide (ClO(2)), granular activated charcoal (GAC)) treated effluents for six months. Surprisingly, both the advanced GAC and tertiary SF treatments (but no...
Environmental science & technology, 2012
This study investigates factors affecting reproduction in fish exposed to pulp and paper mill effluents by comparing effluents from countries with varying levels of documented effects. To explore the hypothesis of wood as a common source of endocrine disrupting compounds, feedstocks from each country were analyzed. Analyses included in vitro assays for androgenic activity (binding to goldfish testis androgen receptors), estrogenic activity (yeast estrogen screen), and neurotransmitter enzyme inhibition (monoamine oxidase and glutamic acid decarboxylase). Chemical analyses included conventional extractives, known androgens, and gas chromatograph index (GCI) profiles. All effluents and wood contained androgenic activity, particularly in nonpolar fractions, although known androgens were undetected. Effluents with low suspended solids, having undergone conventional biotreatment had lower androgenic activities. Estrogenic activity was only associated with Brazilian effluents and undetected in wood. All effluents and wood inhibited neurotransmitter enzymes, predominantly in polar fractions. Kraft elemental chlorine free mills were associated with the greatest neurotransmitter inhibition. Effluent and wood GCI profiles were correlated with androgenic activity and neurotransmitter enzyme inhibition. Differences in feedstock bioactivities were not reflected in effluents, implying mill factors mitigate bioactive wood components. No differences in bioactivities could be discerned on the basis of country of origin, thus we predict effluents in regions lacking monitoring would affect fish reproduction and therefore recommend implementing such programs.
Aquatic Toxicology, 2015
Pine and Eucalyptus pulp and paper mill effluents Bioassay In situ Onchorhynchus mykiss Intersex Vitellogenin EROD a b s t r a c t Pulp and paper mill effluents (PPMEs) have been shown to increase gonad size, cause early maturation, and disrupt hormone functions in native and non-native Chilean fish. In this study, we assessed reproductive (plasma vitellogenin; VTG, gonad development) and metabolic (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity; EROD) end points, relative liver size (LSI) and condition factor (K) of juvenile female and male rainbow trout exposed to effluents. Unlike previous studies, which have focus either on the specific effects of effluent on fish in laboratory exposures or biotic population statuses downstream of discharge sites, we simultaneously assessed the impacts of PPMES on trout using two approaches: (1) laboratory exposures of tertiary treated PPME produced from processing Eucalyptus globulus or Pinus radiata; and (2) in situ bioassay downstream of the combined discharge of the same pulp mill. Despite an increase in the average gonadosomatic index (GSI) in exposed fish, no statistical differences in gonad size between exposed and unexposed individuals was detected. However, both female and male fish exposed to effluents showed significantly higher concentrations of plasma VTG, so more in fish exposed to Eucalyptus-based effluent when compared to Pinus PPME. In addition, male fish showed intersex characteristics in all exposure assays (Eucaliptus and Pinus) and, despite the low concentration of effluent in the river (<1% [v/v]), similar responses were observed in the caged fish. Finally, EROD activity was induced in both in situ exposures and laboratory assays at the higher PPME concentration (60-85% PPME). This study confirms estrogenic effects in Chilean fish exposed to PPME and the necessity for biological effects monitoring in addition to the assessment of physical-chemical endpoints as required in current government regulations.
Endocrine Disruptors, 2018
The Uruguay river basin supports intensive agricultural and forest production, and receives municipal sewage discharge and industrial effluent. Therefore, the river receives xenobiotic compounds which can be distributed in sediments, biota, water and particulate matter. There is evidence of the ability of several of these compounds to interfere with the endocrine system and the sediments are an important source. The aim of this study was to determine whether exposure of immature Cyprinus carpio to Uruguay river sediments undergo physiological and endocrine alterations. A 30-day semi-static assay was performed using sediments from four sites along the Uruguay river and compared with an unexposed group in dechlorinated water as a negative control. The results showed that plasma vitellogenin levels increased along the river, and significant differences were found in exposed fish. Significant difference in hepatosomatic index was observed in fish exposed to sediment from an industrial site. In the histological analysis, only reproductive stage of males showed differences, where the number of primary spermatocyte accumulations was lower in exposed ones, and some exposed individuals from industrial sites presented with testis-ova. Our results suggest that the Uruguay river sediments are a source of endocrine-disrupting compounds available to the aquatic organisms.
2018
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are widespread in freshwater environments and both laboratory and field based studies have shown reproductive effects in fish including for environmentally relevant exposures. Environmental risk assessment (ERA) seeks to protect wildlife populations and prospective assessments rely on extrapolation from individual-level effects established for laboratory fish species to populations of wild fish using arbitrary safety factors. Population susceptibility to chemical effects, however, depends on exposure risk, physiological susceptibility, and population resilience-each of which can differ widely between fish species. Population models have significant potential to address these shortfalls and to include individual variability relating to life-history traits, demographic and density-dependent vital rates, and behaviors which arise from inter-organism and organismenvironment interactions. Confidence in population models is growing and recently this has resulted in the EU Commission stating that results derived from reliable models may be considered when assessing the relevance of adverse effects of EDCs at the population level (European Commission 2016). This review critically assesses the potential risks posed by EDCs for fish populations, considers the ecological factors influencing these risks and explores the benefits and challenges of applying population modelling (including individual-based modelling) in ERA for EDCs in fish. We conclude that population modelling offers a way forward for incorporating greater environmental relevance in assessing the risks of EDCs for fishes and for identifying key risk factors through sensitivity analysis. Individual-based models (IBMs) allow for the incorporation of physiological and behavioral endpoints relevant to EDC exposure effects, thus enabling capturing both direct and indirect population-level effects.