title: Toxic effects of endocrine disrupters on freshwater sponges: common developmental abnormalities.
abstract: Endocrine disrupters are of substantial concern, in large part because effects of these compounds on the growth and development of many aquatic organisms are unknown. We examined toxic effects of three substances (ethylbenzene, nonylphenol, and bisphenol A), that are known to be hormonally active in many animals, on growth and development of two species of freshwater sponge. A common developmental abnormality was observed when sponges were treated with each of these compounds. The three compounds also caused significant reductions in growth rates. Lower concentrations resulted in malformed water vascular systems in several replicates. The utility of freshwater sponge bioassays is discussed as it relates to understanding possible mechanisms of action of endocrine disrupters on aquatic invertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Fairfield University, CT 06430, USA. mhill@fairl.fairfield.edu
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Cate
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stabile
authors.forename: L Kraig
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D001681:Biological Assay; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000662:veterinary*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010636:Phenols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011161:Porifera / Q000254:growth & development*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D010636:Phenols; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C004912:ethylbenzene; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds