WP7 Environmental Effects of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)
201 Oregon Ballroom
1:20 PM - 4:40 PM, Wednesday
() An evaluation of endocrine disrupting effects of the wastewater contaminants, ethinyl estradiol and triclosan, in largemouth bass.
Gross, T1, 2, Wieser, C1, Leiker, T3, Goodbred, S4, 1 USGS-FISC-CARS, Gainesville, FL2 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL3 USGS, Denver, CO4 USGS, Sacramento, CA
ABSTRACT- Previous studies from our laboratories have indicated significant exposures to and likely effects of a wide variety of environmental chemcials in Las Vegas Bay (Lake Mead, Nevada), a site which receives wastewater from the greater Las Vegas Metropolitan area. Contaninant exposures included chemicals of pharmaceutical and heath care product orgin, such as ethinyl estradiol (component of birth control) and triclosan (an antibacterial, as well as contaminants of urban and industrial orgin (i.e. brominated flame retardants and perchlorates). Biomarkers of reproductive function indictaed decreased plasma sex steroids (i.e. 11-ketotestosterone) and thryoid homones (T3 and T4) as well as decreased sperrm quality. The current study exposed captive largemouth bass to either ethinyl estradiol or triclosan at eco-relevant concentrations to assess the potential for relationships to these effects. Bass (20 male and 20 female) were exposed to each of the following treatments for 28 days: control; 10, 100 and 1000pg ethinyl estradiol per liter; low and high dose trclosan. Fish were sacrificed for the assessment of plasma sex steroids (estradiol, testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone), thryoid hormones (T3 & T4), GSI, vitellogenin, and sperm quality (motility and morphology). Water and tissues were analyzed for triclosan (and its metabolites) and ethinyl estradiol. Results indicated significant efects for both sexes, however, effects were more pronounced in male fish. Effects in male fish included decreased sex steroids and decreased sperm quality for doses of ethinyl estadiol greater than 100pg/l. Results also indicated decreased thryroid hormones for the high triclosan dose. These results indicate significant endocrine disrupting effects of both ethinyl estradiol and triclosan at concentrations detected in wastewater effluents. Future efforts will include assessments of controled exposures to wastewater effluents and the assessment of mixture effects under laboratory conditions.
Key words: triclosan, ethinyl estradiol, largemouth bass, reproduction