title: Background fish feminization effects in European remote sites.
abstract: Human activity has spread trace amounts of chemically stable endocrine-disrupting pollutants throughout the biosphere. These compounds have generated a background level of estrogenic activity that needs to be assessed. Fish are adequate sentinels for feminization effects as male specimens are more sensitive than humans to exogenous estrogenic compounds. High mountain lakes, the most distant environments of continental areas, only receive semi-volatile compounds from atmospheric deposition. We analyzed the expression levels of estrogen-regulated genes in male fish from these mountain lakes in Europe. Incipient feminization involving expression of estrogen receptor and zona radiata genes revealed a widespread diffuse estrogenic impact. This effect was correlated with the concentrations of some organochlorine compounds in fish and was consistent with the persistent occurrence of these tropospheric pollutants in the most remote planet regions. These results should be of general concern given the increasing endocrine disruption effects in human populations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC). Jordi Girona, 18. 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jarque
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC). Jordi Girona, 18. 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quirós
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC). Jordi Girona, 18. 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Grimalt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC). Jordi Girona, 18. 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.affiliation: CREAF. Edifici C, Campus de Bellaterra. Autonomous University of Barcelona. 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Catalan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, A-6020, Austria.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lackner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC). Jordi Girona, 18. 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Piña
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005262:Feminization / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000378:metabolism; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014337:Trout / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004527:Egg Proteins; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004967:Estrogens; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C423083:zona radiata protein, fish