HA9 Endocrine Disruption in Aquatic Environments
Room 12A/B, Level 4
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Thursday, 13 November 2003
Chair: Yue-Wern, Huang ,
(564) Reproductive endocrine function in fish captured from Canadian AOCs on the Great Lakes.
McMaster, M 1, Tetreault, G1, Boyko, C1, Janoscik, T1, 1 Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
ABSTRACT- Environment Canada has undertaken studies in Canadian Areas of Concern (AOCs)to measure present concentrations of chemicals of established concern, to assess previously unmeasured chemicals in the aquatic environment that could be associated with environmental health outcomes and to determine the current state of fish and wildlife health. Phase One (2001-2005) is focusing on conditions in Canadian AOCs of the lower Great Lakes. The studies presented here will focus on AOCs in Western Lake Erie and the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers. Two different fish species were collected from exposed and reference sites and examined for reproductive health. As part of this study our laboratory measured circulating levels of reproductive sex steroid hormones, the production of these steroids using an in vitro incubation assay as well as gonadal histology for differences in gonadal development due to exposure. These reproductive endpoints were compared to other indicators of overall fish health as well as other endocrine endpoints including thyroid function and circulating vitellogenin levels. This study is ongoing and its overall goal is to reassess all of Canada's AOCs for evidence of endocrine disruption.
Key words: Fish Reproduction, Canadian Areas of Concern, Endocrine Function