Estrogenic activity associated with organochlorine compounds in fish extracts from European mountain lakes.
Fish muscle extracts from ten European mountain lakes were analyzed for organochlorine compounds (OCs) and estrogenic activity, the latter by a recombinant yeast assay based on the human estrogen receptor. Seventy percent of the samples showed estrogenic activity above detection limits and a subset of five samples showed estrogenic activities, equivalent to more than 10,000 pg/g of estradiol. These highly estrogenic samples occurred in two lakes, Velké Hinçovo in the Tatra Mountains and Redon in the Pyrenees. Principal component analysis correlated estrogenic activity of muscle extracts to fish age and concentrations of the more chlorinated polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs). This is consistent with previously observed correlations of these PCBs with fish age. In addition, most fish with high estrogenic activity were found in lakes containing high OC levels in the sediments, which gives further ground to atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic pollutants as main process leading to the observed endocrine disruption effects.
Garcia-Reyero
Natàlia
N
Institut de Biologia Molecular de Barcelona (CSIC), Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Grimalt
Joan O
JO
Vives
Ingrid
I
Fernandez
Pilar
P
Piña
Benjamin
B
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D005060:Europe; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000819:agonists; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014337:Trout / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000235:genetics; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis
D004967:Estrogens; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D001616:beta-Galactosidase