|
(M/MF147) The effects of perfluorinated chemicals on the steroid binding properties in the blood of fish and birds. De Coen, W.1, Hu, W.2, Jones, P.2, Kannan, K.2, Giesy, J.P.2, 1 2 ABSTRACT- The purpose of this study was to investigate the potency of perfluorinated chemicals to disturb hormonal binding characteristics in the blood of fish and bird species. Recent findings have indicated that chemicals such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid are occuring globally, ranging from industrialized to arctic regions, and accumulate preferentially in the liver and blood of wildlife species. With this study we tried to unravel the potential effects of these persistent chemicals on the hormonal binding capacity of serum proteins. Displacement assays with various perfluorinated sulfonic and carboxylic acids were carried out on the androgen/estrogen binding and the corticosterone binding globulin. From all effects studied, the effects on corticosterone binding globulin in bird species (chicken and bald eagle) occurred at almost environmental relevant concentrations. In general, the corticosterone displacement potency increased with increasing chainlength, whereas the sulfonic compounds were more potent than those with a carboxylic acid functional group. The results of these assays show that PFOS might cause disturbance of important hormonal processes in wildlife species. More research should be conducted to evaluate the effects of in vivo long-term exposure to these chemicals. Key words: PFOS, steroid binding globulins, endocrine disruption |
