Assessment of Streams and Aquatic Organisms in the Vicinity of Birmingham, Alabama for the Presence and Biological Activity of Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals PDF Download
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Author: Bryan S. Arwood Publisher: ISBN: Category : Endocrine disrupting chemicals Languages : en Pages : 98
Book Description
Freshwater ecosystems play a central role in the environment. Through various processes such as nutrient recycling, groundwater recharging, and the attenuation of many pollutants these biological systems help to maintain environmental health. Unfortunately, many recent studies have identified emerging threats to these special environments and the life they sustain. One source of mounting concern is a group of compounds that interact with the endocrine systems of humans and wildlife. Known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), these natural and synthetic chemicals may mimic or interfere with the action of natural hormones--thus disrupting the endocrine system. Multiple studies have reported negative effects associated with EDCs on both the health of humans and wildlife; however more information is needed on the reproductive effects that EDCs may pose to wildlife, in particular fish inhabiting these freshwater ecosystems. Fish serve as a useful indicator of the health of an aquatic ecosystem. To this end, the scope of the current investigation provides an integrated approach in assessing the streams and aquatic organisms in the vicinity of Birmingham, Alabama for the presence and biological activity of EDCs. It follows a preliminary study conducted at several sites along the Cahaba River in which a yeast estrogen screen (YES) detected sufficient estrogenicity in water samples to imply the possible feminization of fish. Repeated samples were collected between 2012 and 2013 providing an assessment to the extent of seasonal and annual variation in estrogenic activity. Using the same YES assay as employed previously, it was determined that water samples collected at several wastewater treatment plant (WWTPs) outfalls contained estrogenic components in concentrations sufficient to cause endocrine disruption in aquatic organisms. Water samples were further analyzed using tandem liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometry and the predominant estrogenic components identified. At WWTPs where habitats were suitable, specimens of largescale stoneroller ( Campostoma oligolepis ) were collected and biomarkers of endocrine disruption evaluated. Such biomarkers included the presence of intersex, reduced gonad size in males and/or females, and reduced secondary sex characteristics within males. In each study described within this dissertation, chemical and biological evidence suggests that environmental estrogens were present at low-level concentrations during the sampling window represented here. Environmental estrogens detected in water samples from the WWTPs investigated illustrated non-significant seasonal influence of environmental concentration. Neither LC/MS nor the YES assay detected significant estrogen loading into receiving bodies of water via wastewater effluent. Additionally, biomarkers for endocrine disruption evaluated within C. oligolepis failed to detect significant differences in either histology or morphology between WWTP present and WWTP absent sites. We conclude that the WWTPs assessed in this study are not currently contributing environmental estrogens to the receiving waters in concentrations sufficient to produce discernible effects upon the fish populations within Jefferson County, Alabama; this is primarily due to their presence at low-level concentrations and intermittent persistence within receiving bodies of water.
Author: Bryan S. Arwood Publisher: ISBN: Category : Endocrine disrupting chemicals Languages : en Pages : 98
Book Description
Freshwater ecosystems play a central role in the environment. Through various processes such as nutrient recycling, groundwater recharging, and the attenuation of many pollutants these biological systems help to maintain environmental health. Unfortunately, many recent studies have identified emerging threats to these special environments and the life they sustain. One source of mounting concern is a group of compounds that interact with the endocrine systems of humans and wildlife. Known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), these natural and synthetic chemicals may mimic or interfere with the action of natural hormones--thus disrupting the endocrine system. Multiple studies have reported negative effects associated with EDCs on both the health of humans and wildlife; however more information is needed on the reproductive effects that EDCs may pose to wildlife, in particular fish inhabiting these freshwater ecosystems. Fish serve as a useful indicator of the health of an aquatic ecosystem. To this end, the scope of the current investigation provides an integrated approach in assessing the streams and aquatic organisms in the vicinity of Birmingham, Alabama for the presence and biological activity of EDCs. It follows a preliminary study conducted at several sites along the Cahaba River in which a yeast estrogen screen (YES) detected sufficient estrogenicity in water samples to imply the possible feminization of fish. Repeated samples were collected between 2012 and 2013 providing an assessment to the extent of seasonal and annual variation in estrogenic activity. Using the same YES assay as employed previously, it was determined that water samples collected at several wastewater treatment plant (WWTPs) outfalls contained estrogenic components in concentrations sufficient to cause endocrine disruption in aquatic organisms. Water samples were further analyzed using tandem liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometry and the predominant estrogenic components identified. At WWTPs where habitats were suitable, specimens of largescale stoneroller ( Campostoma oligolepis ) were collected and biomarkers of endocrine disruption evaluated. Such biomarkers included the presence of intersex, reduced gonad size in males and/or females, and reduced secondary sex characteristics within males. In each study described within this dissertation, chemical and biological evidence suggests that environmental estrogens were present at low-level concentrations during the sampling window represented here. Environmental estrogens detected in water samples from the WWTPs investigated illustrated non-significant seasonal influence of environmental concentration. Neither LC/MS nor the YES assay detected significant estrogen loading into receiving bodies of water via wastewater effluent. Additionally, biomarkers for endocrine disruption evaluated within C. oligolepis failed to detect significant differences in either histology or morphology between WWTP present and WWTP absent sites. We conclude that the WWTPs assessed in this study are not currently contributing environmental estrogens to the receiving waters in concentrations sufficient to produce discernible effects upon the fish populations within Jefferson County, Alabama; this is primarily due to their presence at low-level concentrations and intermittent persistence within receiving bodies of water.
Author: National Research Council Publisher: National Academies Press ISBN: 0309170702 Category : Political Science Languages : en Pages : 242
Book Description
Over the last 30 years, water quality management in the United States has been driven by the control of point sources of pollution and the use of effluent-based water quality standards. Under this paradigm, the quality of the nation's lakes, rivers, reservoirs, groundwater, and coastal waters has generally improved as wastewater treatment plants and industrial dischargers (point sources) have responded to regulations promulgated under authority of the 1972 Clean Water Act. These regulations have required dischargers to comply with effluent-based standards for criteria pollutants, as specified in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the states and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Although successful, the NPDES program has not achieved the nation's water quality goals of "fishable and swimmable" waters largely because discharges from other unregulated nonpoint sources of pollution have not been as successfully controlled. Today, pollutants such as nutrients and sediment, which are often associated with nonpoint sources and were not considered criteria pollutants in the Clean Water Act, are jeopardizing water quality, as are habitat destruction, changes in flow regimes, and introduction of exotic species. This array of challenges has shifted the focus of water quality management from effluent-based to ambient- based water quality standards. Given the most recent lists of impaired waters submitted to EPA, there are about 21,000 polluted river segments, lakes, and estuaries making up over 300,000 river and shore miles and 5 million lake acres. The number of TMDLs required for these impaired waters is greater than 40,000. Under the 1992 EPA guidance or the terms of lawsuit settlements, most states are required to meet an 8- to 13-year deadline for completion of TMDLs. Budget requirements for the program are staggering as well, with most states claiming that they do not have the personnel and financial resources necessary to assess the condition of their waters, to list waters on 303d, and to develop TMDLs. A March 2000 report of the General Accounting Office (GAO) highlighted the pervasive lack of data at the state level available to set water quality standards, to determine what waters are impaired, and to develop TMDLs. This report represents the consensus opinion of the eight-member NRC committee assembled to complete this task. The committee met three times during a three-month period and heard the testimony of over 40 interested organizations and stakeholder groups. The NRC committee feels that the data and science have progressed sufficiently over the past 35 years to support the nation's return to ambient-based water quality management. Given reasonable expectations for data availability and the inevitable limits on our conceptual understanding of complex systems, statements about the science behind water quality management must be made with acknowledgment of uncertainties. This report explains that there are creative ways to accommodate this uncertainty while moving forward in addressing the nation's water quality challenges.
Author: P. V. Cline Publisher: IWA Publishing ISBN: 1843396505 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 277
Book Description
In recent years, concerns have been raised that low concentrations of chemicals may alter the normal functions of the endocrine system, resulting in potentially significant adverse effects on growth, reproduction, and/or development. For domestic wastewater discharges to surface water bodies, estrogenic activity of effluents has been suggested by chemical analysis, biomarkers, and /or in vitro assays. Chemical Measurements. Using sensitive analytical techniques, natural or synthetic hormones and chemicals that mimic estrogen, have been detected in some domestic wastewater effluents and associated watersheds at low concentrations. Biomarkers. Several studies have demonstrated physiological changes in fish that may be attributed to exposure to estrogenic compounds. These include the presence of vitellogenin protein in male fish and/or intersex conditions. In vitro assays. The Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) has been used to characterize estrogenicity of effluents, influents, biosolids and surface waters. This two-year WERF project explored approaches to evaluate the potential for biomarker formation as a result of effluent exposures, and the subsequent relevance of the emerging assays and physiological measurements on potential adverse impacts to individuals or populations of fish in the receiving streams. The endocrine system is complex, and many factors can influence the physiological measurements, including methods, sex, age, reproductive status, seasonal and circadian rhythms, diet, temperature, etc. and produce transient changes in physiology but no significant effect on the individual.
Author: Bryan S. Arwood
Author: Bryan S. Arwood
Author: National Research Council
Author: Sharon E. Kroening
Author: P. V. Cline
Author: Patricia Jackson
Author: 
Author: Joanne Johnston
Author: Richard E. Sparks
Author: 
Author: