title: Evaluating the potential of effluents and wood feedstocks from pulp and paper mills in Brazil, Canada, and New Zealand to affect fish reproduction: chemical profiling and in vitro assessments.
abstract: This study investigates factors affecting reproduction in fish exposed to pulp and paper mill effluents by comparing effluents from countries with varying levels of documented effects. To explore the hypothesis of wood as a common source of endocrine disrupting compounds, feedstocks from each country were analyzed. Analyses included in vitro assays for androgenic activity (binding to goldfish testis androgen receptors), estrogenic activity (yeast estrogen screen), and neurotransmitter enzyme inhibition (monoamine oxidase and glutamic acid decarboxylase). Chemical analyses included conventional extractives, known androgens, and gas chromatograph index (GCI) profiles. All effluents and wood contained androgenic activity, particularly in nonpolar fractions, although known androgens were undetected. Effluents with low suspended solids, having undergone conventional biotreatment had lower androgenic activities. Estrogenic activity was only associated with Brazilian effluents and undetected in wood. All effluents and wood inhibited neurotransmitter enzymes, predominantly in polar fractions. Kraft elemental chlorine free mills were associated with the greatest neurotransmitter inhibition. Effluent and wood GCI profiles were correlated with androgenic activity and neurotransmitter enzyme inhibition. Differences in feedstock bioactivities were not reflected in effluents, implying mill factors mitigate bioactive wood components. No differences in bioactivities could be discerned on the basis of country of origin, thus we predict effluents in regions lacking monitoring would affect fish reproduction and therefore recommend implementing such programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada. craig.milestone@ec.gc.ca
authors.forename: Craig B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Milestone
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orrego
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waye
authors.forename: Jagmohan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kohli
authors.forename: Brian I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Servos
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Maclatchy
authors.forename: D Scott
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Vance L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Trudeau
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Arnason
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heid Furley
authors.forename: Alison H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Slade
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Holdway
authors.forename: L Mark
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hewitt
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002170:Canada; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000819:agonists*; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D006054:Goldfish; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D009520:New Zealand; D010209:Paper; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014866:Waste Products / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004967:Estrogens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase