Estrogens and xenoestrogens in the aquatic environment: An integrated approach for field monitoring and effect assessment
Vethaak, A.D.; Schrap, S.M.; de Voogt, W.P. (Ed.) (2006). Estrogens and xenoestrogens in the aquatic environment: An integrated approach for field monitoring and effect assessment. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC): Pensacola. ISBN 1-880611-85-6. XXIX, 481 pp.
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| Available in | Authors |
VLIZ: Environmental Management EQC.93 [102320]
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| Keywords |
Aquatic organisms
Environmental effects
Environments > Aquatic environment
Monitoring > Environmental monitoring
Pollution
Secretory products > Hormones > Sex hormones
Toxicology
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Vethaak, A.D., editor, more
- Schrap, S.M., editor
- de Voogt, W.P., editor
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| Abstract |
Endocrine-active substances (EASs) have been shown to affect several species of fish in different parts of the world. In particular, feminizing effects have been observed in male fish. The large-scale field study in the Netherlands, on which we report here, focused on the potential effects of estrogenic compounds on wild fish. The freshwater bream (Abramis brama) and the estuarine flounder (Platichthys flesus) were sampled at a large number of locations in the spring and fall of 1999. Average concentrations of the yolk protein vitellogenin (VTG) in blood plasma of male flounders at most investigated locations were not higher than at reference locations. At 2 locations, however, moderately higher concentrations of VTG were observed in the fall. Both locations were situated in the same industrial harbor that also receives effluent from sewage treatment plants (STPs). At some locations, particularly in the spring, VTG concentrations in male bream were significantly higher than in males from a reference location that received little direct contamination. The highest concentrations were observed in individuals collected from a small stream, close to the discharge of a relatively large municipal STP. This was also the only location where considerable histologically visible hermaphroditism occurred, with ovotestes observed in 38% of male bream collected at the location. Hermaphrodotism was not observed in any of the 400 male flounders examined. Because few flounder exhibited elevated plasma concentrations of VTG and hermaphroditism was not observed in the present survey, there seems to be little reason for concern of severe estrogenic effects in flounder that 7 Estrogens and Xenoestrogens in the Aquatic Environment 152 pass most of their time at open sea and in Dutch estuaries connected to the open sea. In some larger inland waters, moderate estrogenic effects may occur in both flounder and bream. However, the extreme effects observed in male bream from the small stream indicate that, locally in smaller waters, estrogenicity of the aquatic environment is a potential threat to the presence and functioning of fish populations. |
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