Profiles and Some Initial Identifications of (Anti)Androgenic Compounds in Fish Exposed to Wastewater Treatment Works Effluents

Abstract

Exposure of fish to wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) effluents can result in reproductive anomalies consistent with exposure to estrogenic compounds. However, UK WwTWs effluents also contain compounds with androgen receptor activities which may contribute to reproductive dysfunction in fish. A toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) approach was used to profile (anti)androgenic compounds in bile of fish exposed to two WwTWs effluents. Extracts of bile from exposed fish and effluent were fractionated by liquid chromatography and tested for (anti)androgenic activity using a yeast androgen receptor transcription screen (YAS). A number of bile fractions contained (anti)androgenic activity unique to the effluent-exposed fish. Some of these fractions contained di(chloromethyl)anthracene or dichlorophene, and these contaminants showed antagonistic activity in the YAS when tested as pure compounds. No androgenic activity was detected in the effluents, but TIE analysis of bile revealed a number of androgenic fractions which contained testosterone metabolites that were unique to effluent-exposed fish. This is the first work reported on the nature of some of the (anti)androgenic compounds that bioaccumulate in fish from WwTWs effluents and indicates that other contaminants, besides estrogenic substances, need to be considered for their potential to contribute to the disruption of reproductive system of fish in UK waters.

Screening of multiple hormonal activities in surface water and sediment from the Pearl River system, South China, using effect‐directed in vitro bioassays

“…Androgenic activity was less frequently detected in surface water and sediment of the Pearl River system, which is consistent with the results of some previous studies [13,39,40]. The possible explanation for the lower androgenic activity is that the agonistic androgenic potency might be masked by androgen receptor antagonists in the extracts [12,40]. Hence, antiandrogenic activity is usually prevalent in various environmental matrices as demonstrated in the present and previous studies [39,40].…”

“…Surface water and sediment samples were collected from the Liuxi, Shijing, and Zhujiang rivers of the Pearl River system in the dry season (December [17][18]2007) and the wet season (September [10][11][12]2008). In total, 15 sampling sites along the three rivers were selected (Fig.…”

“…Effluents from pulp and paper mills displayed androgenic activity in female fish, leading to masculinization or sex reversal of female fish [10,11]. Very recently, screening assays revealed that androgenic activity also exists widely in industrial and hospital wastewaters, municipal STP effluents, and even in surface water in association with estrogen, progesterone, and glucocorticoid receptor activities [12,13].…”

Use of chemical mixtures to differentiate mechanisms of endocrine action in a small fish model

“…A wide variety of known or potential environmental contaminants, including some dicarboximide fungicides (e.g., vinclozolin), conazole fungicides (e.g., prochloraz), organochlorine insecticides (e.g., p,p -DDE), urea-based herbicides (e.g., linuron), polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and pharmaceuticals (e.g., flutamide) have been shown to bind to the AR, and cause anti-androgenic effects in vivo (Gray et al, 2006). Further, recent monitoring programs have highlighted the occurrence of anti-androgenic chemicals in complex environmental mixtures (Weiss et al, 2009;Hill et al, 2010).…”

A potential biomarker of androgen exposure in European bullhead (Cottus sp.) kidney

“…Due to this physiological property, the stickleback is considered as a relevant model fish species to assess the (anti)androgenic effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in laboratory and field studies (Sanchez et al 2008b;Katsiadaki et al 2006;Pettersson et al 2007;Wartman et al 2009). Chemical analysis has led to the identification of chemicals involved in this biological activity and showed that natural androgenic compounds such as androstenedione, equol, dehydrotestosterone or androsterone represent a large part of measured activity (Hill et al 2010;Thomas et al 2002;Kinani et al 2009). Field studies have described physiological changes associated with androgen exposure such as spiggin induction in stickleback from contaminated sites (Sanchez et al 2008b;Katsiadaki et al 2006;Pettersson et al 2007;Wartman et al 2009) or elongated anal fin rays, resembling the male gonopodium, in female mosquitofish (Gambusia sp.)…”