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2L - Immunotoxicity - genotoxicity - ED (WEP/101) Reproductive-Endocrine Effects in a New Zealand Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent. van den Heuvel, Michael1, Bandelj, Emil1, Ellis, Rosanne1, 1 Forest Research, Rotorua, none, New Zealand ABSTRACT- Reproductive and reproductive-endocrine effects of a pulp and paper mill effluent was assessed over a period of four years. Initial results showed masculinization of female, the reduction of ovary and ovarian follicle size in female rainbow trout, and the binding of components in effluent extracts to goldfish androgen receptor. The effects on trout ovaries only occurred when trout exposure was initiated prior to the onset of gonadal maturation. Reproductive effects in trout were correlated with steroid hormone concentrations in trout plasma. Out of four separate experiments, vitellogenin induction was only observed on one occasion. The reduction of gonad size in trout did not influence the survival to the progeny but did affect the size of swim-up fry. Mosquitofish effects were eliminated by filtration of the effluent. In contrast, androgen receptor binding occurred in both filter and filtrate extracts. Subsequent to these experiments, further experimentation has shown the disappearance of both in vivo reproductive effects that were previously observed. The mill has undergone a plethora of major and minor changes and improvements during this period, thus the exact reasons for this cannot be easily determined. Given the current theory that sterol metabolites may be responsible for some of the observed reproductive effects, it is possible that, in addition to alterations within the mill, changes in the microbial ecology of the treatment system could influence whether or not effects occur. Current work to examine potential causes of masculinization in mosquitofish has shown that the androgenic breakdown products of phytosterols, androstenedione and androstadienedione could not possibly be present at the concentrations required to induce masculinization in a water-borne. Further work with in vitro tools will attempt to identify bioactive compounds. Key words: endocrine, pulp and paper, fish, androgen |
