Endocrine disruption in Sphoeroides testudineus tissues and sediments highlights contamination in a northeastern Brazilian estuary.
In recent decades, considerable attention has been devoted to endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDC) and studies on fish feminization have increased throughout the years as a key signal for aquatic environmental contamination. The input of domestic sewage into water reservoirs is common in South American countries, especially in cities that experienced rapid population growths and unplanned urbanization. This study aimed at characterizing morphofunctional parameters of the tropical fish Sphoeroides testudineus and investigating the potential occurrence and effects of endocrine disruptors in the Pacoti River (Ceará, Brazil), often considered a reference site. After collection from the field, fish were measure/weighted and desiccated for gender identification (males, females, and undifferentiated), gonadal histology, and vitellogenin expression. From the biometric analysis, undifferentiated fish showed lower weight and length than female and male fish, although no differences in the condition index were observed. The gonadal weight of undifferentiated fish was significantly lower than those of females and males. Although this pattern was observed, gonadosomatic index (GSI) showed a different pattern, with differences being observed just between males and the other two groups (females and undifferentiated). Vitellogenin (VTG) expression was detected in many mature male and undifferentiated fish, indicating endocrine disruption. In addition, several EDCs (estrone, 17α-estradiol, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, diethylstilbestrol, and estriol) were identified and quantified in sediments from the sampling site. These results were unexpected and indicative that the Pacoti River is impaired by estrogenic contamination.
Laboratório de Ecotoxicologia Marinha, Instituto de Ciências do Mar (Labomar), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60125-120, Brazil. marcioniliafp@yahoo.com.br.
Marcionília Fernandes
MF
Pimentel
Laboratório de Ecotoxicologia Marinha, Instituto de Ciências do Mar (Labomar), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60125-120, Brazil.
Évila Pinheiro
ÉP
Damasceno
Departamento de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Av. Almirante Saldanha da Gama, 89, Santos, São Paulo, 11030-180, Brazil.
Paula Christine
PC
Jimenez
Centro de diagnóstico de enfermidades de organismos aquáticos - CEDECAM, Instituto de Ciências do Mar (Labomar), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60125-120, Brazil.
Pedro Filipe Ribeiro
PF
Araújo
Laboratório de Avaliação de Contaminantes Orgânicos - LACOr, Instituto de Ciências do Mar (Labomar), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60125-120, Brazil.
Marcielly Freitas
MF
Bezerra
Laboratório de Avaliação de Contaminantes Orgânicos - LACOr, Instituto de Ciências do Mar (Labomar), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60125-120, Brazil.
Pollyana Cristina Vasconcelos
PC
de Morais
Laboratório de Avaliação de Contaminantes Orgânicos - LACOr, Instituto de Ciências do Mar (Labomar), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60125-120, Brazil.
Rivelino Martins
RM
Cavalcante
Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
Susana
S
Loureiro
Laboratório de Ecotoxicologia Marinha, Instituto de Ciências do Mar (Labomar), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60125-120, Brazil.|Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Lineu Prestes 1524, Predio Biomedicas I, sala 213, Cidade Universitaria, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil.
Letícia Veras Costa
LV
Lotufo
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D004970:Estrone / Q000378:metabolism; D063366:Estuaries; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D013020:South America; D023721:Tetraodontiformes / Q000502:physiology*; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D012722:Sewage; D014819:Vitellogenins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D004970:Estrone; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D004958:Estradiol
Endocrine disruptors; Pacoti River; Sediment contamination; Sphoeroides testudineus; Vitellogenin