title: Long-term 2007-2013 monitoring of reproductive disturbance in the dun sentinel Assiminea grayana with regard to polymeric materials pollution at the coast of Lower Saxony, North Sea, Germany.
abstract: During biological effect monitoring studies of endocrine active compounds with the snail Assiminea grayana in 2007-2013, reproductive disorders including atresia, transformation of capsule/albumen glands into prostates in females and ovotestis, transformation of prostates to capsule/albumen glands, disruption of spermatogenesis, and calcification of tubules in males, were encountered in several years. The search of sources of endocrine active substances was first directed to antifouling biocides from paint particles and extended to leaching compounds from polymeric materials. In contrast to the reference sites, most of the observed disorders occurred at a station near harbors and dockyards polluted with residues from antifouling paints and polymeric materials. Beside of investigations about the potential ingestion of polymer particles by the snails, further investigations of compounds of polymeric materials with endocrine potential should follow.
authors.affiliation: LimnoMar, Bei der Neuen Münze 11, 22145, Hamburg, Germany. watermann@limnomar.de.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Watermann
authors.affiliation: Alfred Wegener Institute Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Biologische Anstalt Helgoland (BAH), Kurpromenade 201, 27495, Helgoland, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Löder
authors.affiliation: Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Conservation Agency, Am Sportplatz 23, 26506, Norden, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herlyn
authors.affiliation: LimnoMar, Bei der Neuen Münze 11, 22145, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Daehne
authors.affiliation: LimnoMar, Bei der Neuen Münze 11, 22145, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.affiliation: LimnoMar, Bei der Neuen Münze 11, 22145, Hamburg, Germany. kristina.gall@limnomar.de.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D008297:Male; D009659:North Sea; D010150:Paint / Q000032:analysis; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012908:Snails / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Antifouling biocides; Assiminea grayana; Microplastics; Paint flakes; Reproductive disorder; Snails