Anthropogenic tracers, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and endocrine disruption in Minnesota lakes.
Concentrations of endocrine disrupting chemicals and endocrine disruption in fish were determined in 11 lakes across Minnesota that represent a range of trophic conditions and land uses (urban, agricultural, residential, and forested) and in which wastewater treatment plant discharges were absent. Water, sediment, and passive polar organic integrative samplers (POCIS) were analyzed for steroidal hormones, alkylphenols, bisphenol A, and other organic and inorganic molecular tracers to evaluate potential non-point source inputs into the lakes. Resident fish from the lakes were collected, and caged male fathead minnows were deployed to evaluate endocrine disruption, as indicated by the biological endpoints of plasma vitellogenin and gonadal histology. Endocrine disrupting chemicals, including bisphenol A, 17β-estradiol, estrone, and 4-nonylphenol were detected in 90% of the lakes at part per trillion concentrations. Endocrine disruption was observed in caged fathead minnows and resident fish in 90% of the lakes. The widespread but variable occurrence of anthropogenic chemicals in the lakes and endocrine disruption in fish indicates that potential sources are diverse, not limited to wastewater treatment plant discharges, and not entirely predictable based on trophic status and land use.
Writer
Jeffrey H
JH
U.S. Geological Survey, 3215 Marine Street, Boulder, CO 80303, United States.
Barber
Larry B
LB
Brown
Greg K
GK
Taylor
Howard E
HE
Kiesling
Richard L
RL
Ferrey
Mark L
ML
Jahns
Nathan D
ND
Bartell
Steve E
SE
Schoenfuss
Heiko L
HL
D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004970:Estrone / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D008910:Minnesota; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D013256:Steroids / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004958:Estradiol; D004970:Estrone; D010636:Phenols; D013256:Steroids; D014819:Vitellogenins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C025256:nonylphenol; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds