Reproductive health of bass in the Potomac, USA, drainage: Part 2. Seasonal occurrence of persistent and emerging organic contaminants

Abstract

The seasonal occurrence of organic contaminants, many of which are potential endocrine disruptors, entering the Potomac River, USA, watershed was investigated using a two-pronged approach during the fall of 2005 and spring of 2006. Passive samplers (semipermeable membrane device and polar organic chemical integrative sampler [POCIS]) were deployed in tandem at sites above and below wastewater treatment plant discharges within the watershed. Analysis of the samplers resulted in detection of 84 of 138 targeted chemicals. The agricultural pesticides atrazine and metolachlor had the greatest seasonal changes in water concentrations, with a 3.1- to 91-fold increase in the spring compared with the level in the previous fall. Coinciding with the elevated concentrations of atrazine in the spring were increasing concentrations of the atrazine degradation products desethylatrazine and desisopropylatrazine in the fall following spring and summer application of the parent compound. Other targeted chemicals (organochlorine pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and organic wastewater chemicals) did not indicate seasonal changes in occurrence or concentration; however, the overall concentrations and number of chemicals present were greater at the sites downstream of wastewater treatment plant discharges. Several fragrances and flame retardants were identified in these downstream sites, which are characteristic of wastewater effluent and human activities. The bioluminescent yeast estrogen screen in vitro assay of the POCIS extracts indicated the presence of chemicals that were capable of producing an estrogenic response at all sampling sites.

Reproductive health indicators of fishes from Pennsylvania watersheds: association with chemicals of emerging concern

“…Samplers were deployed at the Juniata River site for 42 days (April 21, 2010 to June 1, 2010) and at the Allegheny River site for 41 days (April 28, 2010 to June 7, 2010). Samplers were extracted using established procedures previously described (Alvarez et al 2009). Extracts of the POCIS were screened for total estrogenicity using the bioluminescent yeast-based estrogen screen (Sanseverino et al 2009 as modified in Alvarez et al 2009), synthetic and biogenic hormones by adaptation of a water method (Foreman et al 2012), and agricultural pesticides (Alvarez et al 2009).…”

Analysis of Environmental Samples with Yeast-Based Bioluminescent Bioreporters

“…The authors were able to measure estrogenic responses with BLYES but they were not able to detect a seasonal difference in estrogenicity (some chemicals were detected seasonally via chemical analysis but others were not) though it is unclear whether there was no seasonal effect or whether the estrogens were detected at such a low concentration that a conclusion cannot be drawn. In both studies (Alvarez et al, 2009;Jardim et al, 2011), the expected response with bioassays was lower than the actual response determined with the bioassay. Expected responses are calculated by multiplying a chemical's concentration (determined through chemical analysis) by its potency relative to a reference estrogen, such as E2.…”

“…Surface water samples were solid phase extracted and then processed with the S. cerevisiae BLYR and BLYES. Alvarez et al (2009) used BLYES for the analysis of Potomac River water samples in a study on the reproductive health of bass. The authors criticized the collection of single grab samples, in favor of using passive samplers to concentrate contaminants.…”

“…Extensive research over the past decade has found the widespread presence of organic wastewater contaminants (OWC) in surface waters around the globe including the United States, (Alvarez et al, 2009;Focazio et al, 2008;Kolpin et al, 2002;Owens et al, 2007;Zheng et al, 2008), Asia (Ma et al, 2007), Europe (Cargouet et al, 2007;Cespedes et al, 2005;Gros et al, 2009;Reemtsma et al, 2006) and South America (Bergamasco et al, submitted;Jardim et al, 2011;Kuster et al, 2009). These OWC include pesticides, plasticizers, pharmaceuticals, and natural and synthetic hormones as well as pollutants from chemical spills into the environment.…”

Future Challenges to Protecting Public Health from Drinking-Water Contaminants

“…However, uncertainty about the potential toxicity of mixtures of such contaminants requires further research, particularly for effects on wildlife. For instance, even trace levels of some of these may have deleterious reproductive effects on aquatic organisms (3, 44, 66, 70). The USGS has proposed a National Research Program to investigate potential deleterious health effects to humans and the environment owing to the presence of emerging contaminants (35), based on the numerous occurrence studies the organization has conducted over the past decade.…”