title: The challenge presented by progestins in ecotoxicological research: a critical review.
abstract: Around 20 progestins (also called gestagens, progestogens, or progestagens) are used today in assisting a range of medical conditions from endometrial cancer to uterine bleeding and as an important component of oral contraception. These progestins can bind to a wide range of receptors including progestin, estrogen, androgen, glucocorticoid, and mineralocorticoid receptor, as well as sex hormone and corticosteroid binding globulins. It appears that only five of these (four synthetic and one natural) progestins have so far been studied in sewage effluent and surface waters. Analysis has reported values as either nondetects or low nanograms per liter in rivers. Seven of the progestins have been examined for their effects on aquatic vertebrates (fish and frogs). The greatest concern is associated with levonorgestrel, norethisterone, and gestodene and their ability to reduce egg production in fish at levels of 0.8-1.0 ng/L. The lack of environmental measurements, and some of the contradictions in existing values, however, hampers our ability to make a risk assessment. Only a few nanograms per liter of ethynodiol diacetate and desogestrel in water would be needed for fish to receive a human therapeutic dose for these progestins according to modeled bioconcentration factors. But for the other synthetic progestins levels would need to reach tens or hundreds of nanograms per liter to achieve a therapeutic dose. Nevertheless, the wide range of compounds, diverse receptor targets, and the effect on fish reproduction at sub-nanogram-per-liter levels should prompt further research. The ability to impair female reproduction at very low concentrations makes the progestins arguably the most important pharmaceutical group of concern after ethinylestradiol.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice , Zatisi 728/II, 389 25 Vodnany, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vimal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trubiroha
authors.forename: Jitka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tumová
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ihara
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grabic
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kloas
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Hana Kocour
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kroupová
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D005399:Fishes; D011372:Progestins / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D011372:Progestins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical