Surveys of plasma vitellogenin and intersex in male flounder (Platichthys flesus) as measures of endocrine disruption by estrogenic contamination in United Kingdom estuaries: Temporal trends, 1996 to 2001

Abstract

Plasma vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations and the presence of the ovo-testis (intersex) condition have been recorded in male flounder (Platichthys flesus) captured from several United Kingdom (UK) estuaries since 1996 as part of the endocrine disruption in the Marine Environment (EDMAR) project and earlier programs. It has been confirmed that plasma VTG concentrations in male flounder have remained elevated in several UK estuaries (e.g., Tees, Mersey, and Tyne) throughout the period covered by this study. However, the time-series data indicate that plasma VTG, a measure of environmental estrogen contamination, has decreased in fish captured from several estuaries, especially those of the Tyne and Mersey. Shorter time-series data sets from the Forth and Clyde estuaries also suggest a decrease in estrogen contamination at these sites. Trends associated with specific point sources of estrogenic contamination show site-specific patterns. For instance, plasma VTG levels in male flounder captured near the Howdon sewage treatment outfall (Tyne) have shown a steady decline to near baseline levels in 2001, while the plasma of male fish captured at a site adjacent to the Dabholm Gut discharge in the Tees estuary have shown little evidence of a sustained decline. The occurrence of the intersex condition was detected at a low but consistent prevalence through the study period, with the majority of cases recorded in fish captured from the Tyne and Mersey estuaries. The data set does not allow conclusions to be drawn about any temporal trends associated with this condition. The significance of the findings and possible mitigating influences are discussed in terms of the impacts on wild fish and the role of effluent treatment in reducing these.

Development of an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for quantifying vitellogenin in Pacific salmon and assessment of field exposure to environmental estrogens

“…The range and magnitude were also similar to the lower end of those reported for wild flounder in the United Kingdom or the Netherlands [36,37] and in freshwater studies involving either wild roach [38] or caged rainbow trout [39] held for three to four weeks downstream of sewage effluent outfalls in the United Kingdom. Also, although some studies on rainbow trout have reported adverse reproductive effects associated with 10-to 30-fold VTG elevation [2,11], adverse reproductive effects also have been reported with only two to three fold VTG elevation, which are levels similar to those observed in the current study.…”

Emerging contaminants in surface waters and their relevance for the production of drinking water in Europe

“…compounds that act as the female sex hormone 17b-estradiol. The most notable effect in this respect is the intersexuality of male fish that is observed at large scale in the UK (Jobling et al 1998;Allen et al 1999a,b;Kirby et al 2004) and other countries (Sole et al 2003;Barnhoorn et al 2004;Vethaak et al 2005;Bjerregaard et al 2006;Houtman et al 2007). Intersex male fish developed female characteristics, i.e.…”

Evidence for estrogenic endocrine disruption in an offshore flatfish, the dab (Limanda limanda L.)

“…Male flounders (Platichthys flesus) caught in industrialised estuaries of the UK and the Netherlands have been found with elevated concentrations of VTG in their plasma (Lye, Frid, Gill, & McCormick, 1997;Lye, Frid, & Gill, 1998;Allen et al, 1999a;Allen et al, 1999b;Matthiessen, Allen, Bamber, Craft, Hurst, Hutchinson et al, 2002;Vethaak, Lahr, Kuiper, Grinwis, Rankouhi, Giesy et al, 2002;Kirby, Allen, Dyer, Feist, Katsiadaki, Matthiessen et al, 2004;Kleinkauf, Scott, Stewart, Simpson, & Leah, 2004b;Kirby, Smith, Barry, Katsiadaki, Lyons, & Scott, 2006). The range of VTG concentrations was great (from <0.01 µg/ml to >50 x 10 3 µg/ml).…”