Grantee Research Project Results
2008 Progress Report: Developing Rapid Assessment Tools to Evaluate the Biological Effects of Complex and Biologically Active Chemical Mixtures
EPA Grant Number: R832741Title: Developing Rapid Assessment Tools to Evaluate the Biological Effects of Complex and Biologically Active Chemical Mixtures
Investigators: Schoenfuss, Heiko L. , Barber, Larry B. , Julius, Mathew L. , Norris, David O.
Institution: Saint Cloud State University , United States Geological Survey , University of Colorado at Boulder
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: November 1, 2005 through October 31, 2008 (Extended to October 31, 2009)
Project Period Covered by this Report: November 1, 2007 through October 31,2008
Project Amount: $599,640
RFA: Exposure Measurement Tools for Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Mixtures (2005) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Endocrine Disruptors , Environmental Justice , Human Health , Safer Chemicals
Objective:
This project seeks to test the hypotheses that mixtures of estrogenic compounds will have adverse effects on survival and reproduction of aquatic vertebrates that cannot solely be accounted for by the summation of individual effects. Three objectives will be completed to test the above hypothesis and develop rapid assessment biomarkers to evaluate effects of complex biologically active mixtures:
- To determine the environmentally relevant concentrations of suggested endocrine disrupting chemicals in the aquatic environment. (Phase 1 - year 1).
- To assess whether the effects of mixtures of these chemicals are more potent on aquatic wildlife than suggested by the sum of individual effects. (Phase 2A, B - second half year 1 and year 2).
- To evaluate the applicability of neurotransmitter distribution and abundance as rapid indicators of adverse health effects in exposed aquatic wildlife. (Phase 2B, 3 - second half year 2 and year 3).
Progress Summary:
Phase 1 of the project, the analysis of two wastewater effluents, has been completed and Phase 2, controlled laboratory exposure experiments and linkage to neuroendocrine endpoints indicative of exposure, has advanced considerably. We have also conducted pilot experiments in preparation for field validation studies in Phase 3 of the project. Results indicate the presence of the three major classes of biologically active compounds (natural hormones, pharmaceuticals, and alkylphenolic surfactants) in both effluents. Most compounds were found in higher concentrations in the Boulder treated effluent. Both effluents exhibited temporal variability creating continuously changing complex mixtures.
We have completed exposure experiments with fathead minnows in the St. Cloud State University Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory for estrpgems and alkylphenols and are planning pharmaceutical exposure experiments. We have also completed exposures on diatoms, daphnia and larval fathead minnows to estrogens and alkylphenols at several concentrations and in mixture. Our published results suggest that diatoms are adversely affected by environmentally relevant concentrations of nonylphenol, but not estradiol. These results are consistent with a non-receptor mediated effect of nonylphenol that results in a reduced nutritional value of the diatoms for apical levels of the aquatic food chain. Our published fathead minnow nonylphenol exposure data indicate that this most estrogenic alkylphenol has the potential to disrupt reproductive behaviors in male fathead minnows without altering their gonadal structure.
Future Activities:
In year 3 of this study we plan to continue and complete daphnia exposures to biologically active compounds singularly and in mixture to model the intermediate layer of a simplified aquatic food chain. We will complete fathead minnow exposures to biologically active compounds singularly and in mixtures. We will continue to analyze brain samples obtained from the exposed fishes to characterize the neural responses to exposure. Finally, we will conduct to field-based validation experiments at municipal WWTPs to assess whether our rapid biomarkers for exposure effects are field applicable.
Journal Articles on this Report : 5 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 14 publications | 8 publications in selected types | All 8 journal articles |
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Hyndman KM, Biales A, Bartell SE, Schoenfuss HL. Assessing the effects of exposure timing on biomarker expression using 17β-estradiol. Aquatic Toxicology 2010;96(4):264-272. |
R832741 (2008) |
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Julius ML, Stepanek J, Tedrow O, Gamble C, Schoenfuss HL. Estrogen-receptor independent effects of two ubiquitous environmental estrogens on Melosira varians Agardh, a common component of the aquatic primary production community. Aquatic Toxicology 2007;85(1):19-27. |
R832741 (2007) R832741 (2008) R832741 (Final) |
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Schoenfuss HL, Bartell SE, Bistodeau TB, Cediel RA, Grove KJ, Zintek L, Lee KE, Barber LB. Impairment of the reproductive potential of male fathead minnows by environmentally relevant exposures to 4-nonylphenolf. Aquatic Toxicology 2008;86(1):91-98. |
R832741 (2007) R832741 (2008) R832741 (Final) |
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Vajda AM, Barber LB, Gray JL, Lopez EM, Bolden AM, Schoenfuss HL, Norris DO. Demasculinization of male fish by wastewater treatment plant effluent. Aquatic Toxicology 2011;103(3-4):213-221. |
R832741 (2008) |
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Ye X, Schoenfuss HL, Jahns ND, Delinsky AD, Strynar MJ, Varns J, Nakayama SF, Helfant L, Lindstrom AB. Perfluorinated compounds in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fillets from the Upper Mississippi River. Environmental International 2008;34(7):932-938. |
R832741 (2007) R832741 (2008) R832741 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
Endocrine disruption, fathead minnows, estrogens;, Health, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Health Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Endocrine Disruptors - Human Health, endocrine disruptors, Biochemistry, Endocrine Disruptors - Environmental Exposure & Risk, bioavailability, estrogen response, EDCs, wastewater, chemical mixtures, rapid assessment tool, exposure studies, endocrine disrupting chemicalsRelevant Websites:
A domain name has been registered and the site is currently under construction.Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.