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Biological responses of marine flatfish exposed to municipal wastewater effluent
Author(s) -
VidalDorsch Doris E.,
Bay Steven M.,
Greenstein Darrin J.,
Baker Michael E.,
Hardiman Gary,
Reyes Jesus A.,
Kelley Kevin M.,
Schlenk Daniel
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.2466
Subject(s) - effluent , vitellogenin , environmental chemistry , turbot , flatfish , endocrine disruptor , triclosan , biology , environmental science , environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products , toxicology , endocrine system , fish <actinopterygii> , chemistry , fishery , environmental engineering , hormone , medicine , endocrinology , pathology
There is increasing concern over the presence of pharmaceutical compounds, personal care products, and other chemicals collectively known as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in municipal effluents, yet knowledge of potential environmental impacts related to these compounds is still limited. The present study used laboratory exposures to examine estrogenic, androgenic, and thyroid‐related endocrine responses in marine hornyhead turbot ( Pleuronichthys verticalis ) exposed to CECs from municipal effluents with 2 degrees of treatment. Fish were exposed for 14 d to environmentally realistic concentrations of effluent (0.5%) and to a higher concentration (5%) to investigate dose responses. Plasma concentrations of estradiol (E2), vitellogenin (VTG), 11‐keto testosterone, and thyroxine were measured to assess endocrine responses. Contaminants of emerging concern were analyzed to characterize the effluents. Diverse types of effluent CECs were detected. Statistically significant responses were not observed in fish exposed to environmentally realistic concentrations of effluent. Elevated plasma E2 concentrations were observed in males exposed to ammonia concentrations similar to those found in effluents. However, exposure to ammonia did not induce VTG production in male fish. The results of the present study highlight the importance of conducting research with sentinel organisms in laboratory studies to understand the environmental significance of the presence of CECs in aquatic systems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:583–591. © 2013 SETAC