PARENT SESSION
PT2 - Endocrine Disruption
Tuesday, 19 November 2002
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall

(P563) Temporal and spatial variability in the estrogenicity of a municipal wastewater effluent.

Hemming, Jon^*,1, Allen, H.², Turner, Philip², Waller, W.², Lazorchak, James³, Lattier, David³, Chow, Marjorie⁴, Denslow, Nancy⁴, Venables, Barney⁵, ¹ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, FL, US² Institute of Applied Science, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, US³ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, US⁴ University of Florida Biomarkers/Protein Chemistry Core Facility, Gainesville, FL, US⁵ TRAC Laboratories, Inc., Denton, TX, US

ABSTRACT- Estrogenicity of a municipal wastewater effluent has been monitored using the vitellogenin biomarker in adult male fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Variability in expression of the vitellogenin biomarker has been evident among monitoring periods. Significant (=0.05) increases in plasma vitellogenin concentrations were detected in the months of March and December, but not in August or June. Additionally, the magnitude of expression has been variable. Variability in the spatial scale was also evident during the March and June exposure months. Concurrent exposures in both the receiving creek and experimental wetland showed estrogenicity to be different with distance from the respective effluent inflow sites. March exposures showed estrogenicity to be somewhat persistent in the receiving creek (>600m), but to decrease rapidly within the experimental wetland (<40m). Results will be discussed relative to monitoring season, spatial distribution of response in both environments, and relative to possible causative factors contributing to the effluent estrogenicity.

Key words: vitellogenin, xenoestrogens, wastewater effluent, Pimephales promelas