title: Does bisphenol A induce superfeminization in Marisa cornuarietis? Part I: intra- and inter-laboratory variability in test endpoints.
abstract: It has been claimed that bisphenol A (BPA) induces superfeminization in the freshwater gastropod, Marisa cornuarietis. To explore the reproducibility of prior work, here we present results from a three-laboratory study, the objectives of which were to determine the mean and variability in test endpoints (i.e., adult fecundity, egg hatchability, and juvenile growth) under baseline conditions and to identify the sources of variability. A major source of variability for all of the measured endpoints was due to differences within and among individuals. With few exceptions, variability among laboratories and among replicate tanks within laboratories contributed little to the observed variability in endpoints. The results highlight the importance of obtaining basic knowledge of husbandry requirements and baseline information on life-history traits of potential test species prior to designing toxicity test protocols. Understanding of the levels and sources of endpoint variability is essential so that statistically robust and ecologically relevant tests of chemicals can be conducted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change, Roskilde University, Universitetsvej 1, PO Box 260, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark. vforbes@ruc.dk
authors.forename: Valery E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Selck
authors.forename: Annemette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palmqvist
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aufderheide
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Warbritton
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pounds
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van der Hoeven
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caspers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D005260:Female; D005262:Feminization / Q000139:chemically induced; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012098:Reproduction; D012908:Snails / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D010636:Phenols; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds