title: Health status of native fish (Percilia gillissi and Trichomycterus areolatus) downstream of the discharge of effluent from a tertiary-treated elemental chlorine-free pulp mill in Chile.
abstract: Few data exist on the possible effects of pulp and paper effluent discharge on native fish populations in the Southern Hemisphere, relative to the research done in the Northern Hemisphere. The present research examined two native fish species (Trichomycterus areolatus and Percilia gillissi) for effects at both the molecular and individual level due to the discharge of effluent from a tertiary treated elemental chlorine-free pulp mill into a fluvial system in Central Chile over three seasons (February 2007, October 2007, January 2008). Different responses were observed between species and between sexes. There was an increase in the production of gonadal 17β-estradiol in the females of both species but a drop in 11-ketotestosterone production in P. gillissi males. Female gonadal size was increased, especially during the summer period, with corresponding increases the frequency of advanced oocyte development, and in the oocyte diameter in both species. Hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity was elevated for both species downstream of the discharge point, although overall it was higher in P. gillissi than T. areolatus. Decreases in the frequency of smaller-sized fish for both species, as well as a drop in the size of the adults downstream of the discharge point, were observed. The present study is the first evidence of endocrine disruption in native freshwater fish associated with modern pulp mills in South America. This study establishes possible links in the reproductive alterations observed at the subindividual and individual levels that could explain the changes observed at the population level.
authors.affiliation: EULA-Chile Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile. gchiang@udec.cl
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: McMaster
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urrutia
authors.forename: M Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Saavedra
authors.forename: J Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gavilán
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tucca
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barra
authors.forename: Kelly R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Munkittrick
mesh_terms: D059002:Androgen Receptor Antagonists / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D002397:Catfishes / Q000502:physiology*; D002677:Chile; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010209:Paper; D010473:Perciformes / Q000502:physiology*; D011156:Population Density; D013739:Testosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D059002:Androgen Receptor Antagonists; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D007220:Industrial Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; C003600:11-ketotestosterone