title: Assessing the potential for trace organic contaminants commonly found in Australian rivers to induce vitellogenin in the native rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis) and the introduced mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki).
abstract: In Australia, trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) and endocrine active compounds (EACs) have been detected in rivers impacted by sewage effluent, urban stormwater, agricultural and industrial inputs. It is unclear whether these chemicals are at concentrations that can elicit endocrine disruption in Australian fish species. In this study, native rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis) and introduced invasive (but prevalent) mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) were exposed to the individual compounds atrazine, estrone, bisphenol A, propylparaben and pyrimethanil, and mixtures of compounds including hormones and personal care products, industrial compounds, and pesticides at environmentally relevant concentrations. Vitellogenin (Vtg) protein and liver Vtg mRNA induction were used to assess the estrogenic potential of these compounds. Vtg expression was significantly affected in both species exposed to estrone at concentrations that leave little margin for safety (p<0.001). Propylparaben caused a small but statistically significant 3× increase in Vtg protein levels (p=0.035) in rainbowfish but at a concentration 40× higher than that measured in the environment, therefore propylparaben poses a low risk of inducing endocrine disruption in fish. Mixtures of pesticides and a mixture of hormones, pharmaceuticals, industrial compounds and pesticides induced a small but statistically significant increase in plasma Vtg in rainbowfish, but did not affect mosquitofish Vtg protein or mRNA expression. These results suggest that estrogenic activity represents a low risk to fish in most Australian rivers monitored to-date except for some species of fish at the most polluted sites.
authors.affiliation: Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia.
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Ulster University, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, New South Wales, 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colville
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, New South Wales, 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia.
authors.forename: Peta A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Neale
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia.
authors.forename: Dayanthi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nugegoda
authors.affiliation: Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax St. East, Nelson 7042, New Zealand; School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, PO Box 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Louis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.affiliation: Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia. Electronic address: f.leusch@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Frederic D L
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Leusch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D003532:Cyprinodontiformes / Q000378:metabolism*; D058865:Introduced Species; D008297:Male; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D023701:Smegmamorpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014819:Vitellogenins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: EDC; Environmental estrogen; Environmental risk assessment; In vivo; Micropollutant; PPCP