Endocrine disrupters in the aquatic environment

Abstract

Possible mechanisms to explain endocrine effects on reproduction and sex differentiation are presented for selected pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, industrial chemicals and plant sterols which are known to be present in the aquatic environment. Disruptions of the hormonal coordination can be induced by xenobiotics on various levels of the hierachically organised endocrine system of vertebrates. Phthalate plasticisers, for example, may disrupt the pituitary control of gonadal functions; prenatal/larval exposure to synthetic estrogen impairs sex differentiation and neuroendocrine sexual determination of the central nervous system; phenylurea herbicides block the androgen receptor; the biotransformation of weakly estrogenic plant sterol components of paper mill wastewater (e.g. beta-sitosterol) may lead to androgenic compounds. The effect of hypolipidemic drugs on lipid homeostasis (peroxysom proliferation) is transmitted via a receptor protein that seems to be closely related to the endocrine system both functionally as well as phylogenetically; possible interferences with the neuroendocrine control of sex differentiation are also discussed. In invertebrates, tributyltin is known to effect the biosynthesis of steroidal sexual hormones. PCBs are suspected to be competitive inhibitors of the steroid catabolism. In order to identify potential risks caused by chemicals to the reproductive capacities of aquatic animals and to the quality of drinking water, methods should be established to detect endocrine disrupters at the various levels of the endocrine system.

Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation: A Review of Pulp and Paper Industry Practices and Opportunities

“…Pulp mill effluents are known to contain varying amounts of phytosterols, which have the structure similar to that of the steroid hormones of vertebrates (Lehtinen et al 1999). In addition, transformation products of sterols can have androgenic (Stahlschmidt-Allner et al 1997) and hermaphroditic effects on fish near sewage treatment plants (Zachrazewski et al 1995;Lacorte et al 2003).…”

Refractory organic pollutants and toxicity in pulp and paper mill wastewaters

“…For example concentration of 10 µg/L causes disturbed growth of fish larvae and chronic toxic effects can be seen at 20 µg/L (Werker and Hall 1999a). In addition, plant sterols disturb hormonal activity of many aquatic organisms because the structure of sterols resembles that of steroid hormones of vertebrate (Stahlschmidt-Allner et al 1997;Kostamo and Kukkonen 2003). For example, the sterols have been found to have adverse effects on the development, growth and reproduction of fish (Mattson et al 2001).…”

Interferentes endócrinos no ambiente

“…Entretanto, sua concentração no plasma pode se tornar elevada após a exposição de um determinado organismo a substâncias que apresentam atividade estrogênica 4,5,18,22,57 . É o caso do β-sitosterol, capaz de induzir a produção de vitelogenina em peixes machos, bem como produzir efeitos androgênicos em peixes fêmeas, tais como o desenvolvimento dos órgãos reprodutivos masculinos 59 .…”