title: Human food safety and environmental hazards associated with the use of methyltestosterone and other steroids in production of all-male tilapia.
abstract: In recent years, all-male cultures of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) have been the most preferred mode of production in aquaculture industry. All-male individuals achieve higher somatic growth rate and shut high energy losses associated with gonadal development and reproduction. The economic advantages of culturing all-male tilapia have led to the development of procedures for producing unisex cultures, using 17α-methyltestosterone (MT). Despite widespread use of the MT in tilapia farming, the implications of hormone treatment in relation to human health and the environment have raised a number of concerns in the scientific community. In this review, the hormonal application processes, economic and ecological significance of MT, food safety and residual MT, comparative uses of steroids in aquaculture, animal husbandry, and medicine have been briefly reviewed for regulatory guidelines, and finally, future research perspectives have been addressed. The review can be used as policy-making guidelines in aquaculture framework development as can be emphasized in African continent, among others. The most important conclusion to draw is that the quantity of MT used in conventional practice is large compared to the actual dose required for sex reversal, fish produced are safe for human consumptions, and the environmental hazards should be further emphasized.
authors: School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania, nichogm_2006@yahoo.com.
authors: Nichrous
authors: N
authors: Mlalila
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Mahika
authors: Lonji
authors: L
authors: Kalombo
authors: Hulda
authors: H
authors: Swai
authors: Askwar
authors: A
authors: Hilonga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D023681:Cichlids / Q000254:growth & development*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008777:Methyltestosterone / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008777:Methyltestosterone
references: Rev Environ Contam Toxicol. 2008;195:1-30
references: 18418952
references: Endocrinol Nutr. 2012 Jun-Jul;59(6):367-82
references: 22542505
references: J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2011 Jun 25;55(4):728-43
references: 21131155
references: Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2014 Oct 1;207:50-5
references: 24815887
references: Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2004 May;25(5):273-9
references: 15120494
references: Chemosphere. 2011 Mar;82(10):1401-7
references: 21194723
references: J Control Release. 2006 May 1;112(1):1-14
references: 16530874
references: Aquat Toxicol. 2004 Jan 7;66(1):15-23
references: 14687976
references: Acta Pharm. 2006 Dec;56(4):417-29
references: 19839134
references: Aquat Toxicol. 2006 Dec 1;80(3):237-48
references: 16996625
references: Environ Toxicol Chem. 2007 Feb;26(2):264-70
references: 17713214
references: J Hazard Mater. 2012 Jun 30;221-222:35-44
references: 22541334
references: Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2007 Jun;28(6):263-70
references: 17466385
references: Aquat Toxicol. 2007 Apr 20;82(1):36-46
references: 17331597
references: Aquat Toxicol. 2008 Apr 8;87(1):37-46
references: 18313154
references: Steroids. 2008 Dec 22;73(14):1409-15
references: 18691607
references: Aquat Toxicol. 2006 Aug 23;79(2):192-200
references: 16844241
references: Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Jun;25(3):501-15
references: 21663843
references: Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2002 Feb 1;125(2):151-62
references: 11884061
references: Environ Sci Technol. 2008 Aug 1;42(15):5521-6
references: 18754470
references: Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Jun;25(3):517-29
references: 21663844
references: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Oct 15;99(21):13955-60
references: 12359876
references: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Feb 22;108(8):3448-52
references: 21300863
references: Environ Sci Technol. 2004 Dec 1;38(23):6377-84
references: 15597895
references: Steroids. 2000 Oct-Nov;65(10-11):671-9
references: 11108875
references: Steroids. 2012 Oct;77(12):1267-90
references: 22910289
references: Environ Sci Technol. 2008 Jan 15;42(2):530-5
references: 18284158
references: Environ Health Perspect. 2004 Mar;112(3):346-52
references: 14998751
references: Baillieres Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998 Oct;12(3):521-34
references: 10332571
references: Aquat Toxicol. 2001 May;52(3-4):177-88
references: 11239680
references: Environ Sci Technol. 2013 Aug 6;47(15):8416-24
references: 23796267
references: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Dec 16;105(50):19786-91
references: 19066213
references: Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Jun;17(2):223-36
references: 12787549
references: Environ Sci Technol. 2004 Feb 1;38(3):790-8
references: 14968866
references: Homeopathy. 2012 Jul;101(3):154-8
references: 22818232
references: Water Sci Technol. 2009;59(2):261-5
references: 19182335