title: Effects of Exposure to WwTW Effluents over Two Generations on Sexual Development and Breeding in Roach Rutilus rutilus.
abstract: Exposure to environmental estrogens in wastewater treatment works (WwTW) effluents induces feminized responses in male fish, including the development of eggs in male testes. However, the impacts on the offspring of exposed fish are not well understood. In this study, we examined whether roach (Rutilus rutilus) from mothers that had been exposed to an undiluted WwTW effluent from early life to sexual maturity had altered susceptibility to gonadal feminization and an impaired capacity to reproduce. For males from both WwTW effluent exposed mothers and dilution water exposed mothers, effluent exposure for up to 3 years and 9 months induced feminized male gonads, although the intersex condition was relatively mild. There was no difference in the severity of gonadal feminization in roach derived from either WwTW effluent exposed or dilution water exposed mothers. Furthermore, a breeding study revealed that roach with effluent-exposed mothers reproduced with an equal success as roach with mothers exposed to clean water. Roach exposed to the effluent for 3 years in this study were able to reproduce successfully. Our findings provide no evidence for impacts of WwTW effluent exposure on reproduction or gonadal disruption in roach down the female germ line and add to existing evidence that male roach with a mild intersex condition are able to breed competitively.
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter , Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Patrick B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter , Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University , Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicol
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter , Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Bickley
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter , Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Eliane S R
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: De-Bastos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University , Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jobling
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter , Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Tyler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000502:physiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005262:Feminization; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012744:Sex Ratio; D046468:Sexual Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical