In vivo bioassay‐guided fractionation of marine sediment extracts from the Southern California Bight, USA, for estrogenic activity

Abstract

The exposure and uptake of environmental estrogenic compounds have been reported in previous studies of demersal flatfish species in the central Southern California Bight (SCB), USA. The objective of this study was to evaluate the estrogenic or feminizing activity of marine sediments from the SCB by using in vivo vitellogenin (VTG) assays in male or juvenile fish. In 2003, sediments were collected near wastewater outfalls serving the counties of Los Angeles (LACSD) and Orange (OCSD), and the city of San Diego (SD), California, USA. Cultured male California halibut (CH; Paralichthys californicus) were either directly exposed to sediments for 7 d or treated with two intraperitoneal injections of sediment extract over 7 d. The 17beta-estradiol (E2) equivalent values ranged from 1 to 90 microg/kg with LACSD > SD > OCSD. Measurable concentrations of E2 were observed in all sediment extracts and ranged from 0.16 to 0.45 ng/g. Estrone (El) was only observed in sediments near the LACSD outfall (0.6 ng/g). Alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates were observed in all sediment samples, but were highest near the OCSD outfall, where concentrations of nonylphenol were 3,200 ng/g. Fractionation studies of the LACSD sediment extract collected in 2004 failed to demonstrate relationships between VTG expression and 62 analytes, including E2, which was observed in the whole extract (2.9 ng/g). Oxybenzone (1.6 ng/g) was identified in bioactive fractions as well as unknown compounds of relatively high polarity. These results indicate that estrogen receptor-based assays may underestimate environmental estrogenic activity and estrogenic compounds other than classic natural and xenoestrogens may contribute to estrogenic activity of sediments from the SCB.

Estrogenic activity profiles and risks in surface waters and sediments of the Pearl River system in South China assessed by chemical analysis and in vitro bioassay

“…7,8 Due to the concerns of possible impacts of EDCs on aquatic organisms, investigations on these chemicals in the sewage treatment plants, receiving water, and sediments have been carried out in some regions of the world. [9][10][11][12][13][14] High detection frequencies of these EDCs are recorded in aquatic environments, with concentrations ranging from a few parts per trillion to several parts per million. In parallel with chemical analysis, in vivo or in vitro bioassays are often used to screen the estrogenic potency of the environmental samples.…”

“…11,12,[38][39][40][41] Obviously, the concentrations of the EDCs in sediments of the Pearl River system (especially the Shijing River) were generally higher than those in other regions of the world. The maximum concentrations in the sediments of the Shijing River were 10-40-fold higher than the reported maximum concentrations in sediments of other regions.…”

Biodegradation of the ultraviolet filter benzophenone‐3 under different redox conditions

“…It is reported that BP-3 showed hormonal activities (estrogenic, antiestrogenic, androgenic, and antiandrogenic) in fish in both in vitro and in vivo tests [7][8][9]. In male medaka and male California halibut BP-3 lead to vitellogenin induction [10,11].…”

Uptake of estradiol from sediment by hornyhead turbot (Pleuronichthys verticalis) and effects on oxidative DNA damage in male gonads

“…E2 concentrations in sediments around the outfall were roughly 3-fold higher than those at a reference location (0.45 ng/g vs. 0.16 ng/g dry weight), where no correlation between plasma E2 levels and DNA damage was demonstrated (Schlenk et al, 2005). Mammalian cytochrome P450 1B1 catalyzes production of 4-hydroxy estradiol, which is further metabolized to semiquinones and quinones causing oxidative DNA damage due to redox cycling (Han and Liehr, 1994).…”