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RESEARCH ON ENDOCRINE DISRUPTERS IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT BY THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Citation:
McKenney Jr., C L. RESEARCH ON ENDOCRINE DISRUPTERS IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT BY THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. Presented at Endocrine Disruptor Workshop, Weymouth, UK, Sept. 8-9, 2001.
Description:
Research on Endocrine Disrupters in the Aquatic Environment by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (Abstract). Presented at the Endocrine Disrupters Workshop sponsored by the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 8-9 September 2001, Weymouth, UK. 1 p.
An overview was presented of research on endocrine disrupters in the aquatic environment by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The key research questions in the EPA's Research Plan on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) include 1) determining the extent of the problem, 2) supporting the EPA's screening and testing program (EPASTP) and 3) a better understanding of the science. Examples were provided for purported adverse effects of EDCs on wildlife. Research supporting EPASTP, includes development and evaluation of a frog metamorphosis assay, a fish 21-day reproduction screen in minnows, a crustacean metamorphosis assay and a two-generation crustacean reproduction screen. Intramural effects
research directed at a better understanding of the science includes determining classes of chemicals that act as EDCs, examining dose-response curves of EDCs at environmentally relevant concentrations, investigating modes of action of certain EDCs, conducting comparative endocrinology studies and examining population level effects. Highlights of research results include 1) identification of androgenic compounds in paper pulp mill
effluents, using a screening assay in fish, 2) development of biomarkers for ED (vitellogenin in fish and crustaceans, aromatase in fish, thyroid hormones in fish and frogs, insulin-life growth factors in fish and ecdysone in crustaceans), 3) development of microarray of estrogen responsive genes in laboratory-exposures of sheepshead minnows and 4) development of sampling and analytical techniques for some EDCs. Future research will include development of new assays for the EPASTP and techniques for estimating impacts at the population level from exposures to EDCs in representative wildlife species, including the potential use of microarrays.