Predicted Exposures to Steroid Estrogens in U.K. Rivers Correlate with Widespread Sexual Disruption in Wild Fish Populations

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.8050
• Publication Date: 2007-05-30T07:00:44Z
• Authors: Susan Jobling; Richard Williams; Andrew Johnson; Ayesha Taylor; Melanie Gross-Sor...; Monique Nolan; Charles R. Tyler; Ronny van Aerle; Eduarda Santos; Geoff Brighty
• Keywords: Rutilus; Sex steroid; Xenoestrogen; Ethinylestradiol

Steroidal estrogens, originating principally from human excretion, are likely to play a major role in causing widespread endocrine disruption wild populations of the roach (Rutilus rutilus), common cyprinid fish, rivers contaminated by treated sewage effluents. Given extent this problem, risk assessment models needed predict location and severity river catchments identify areas where regulation discharges remove these contaminants is necessary. In study we attempted correlate British rivers, with their predicted exposure steroid estrogens derived population. The predictions estrogen at each site were determined combining modeled concentrations individual [17β -estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), 17α -ethinylestradiol (EE2)] effluent dilution immediate receiving water. This model was applied 45 sites on 39 throughout United Kingdom. Each studied then categorized as either high, medium, or low "risk" basis assumed additive potency three calculated data published studies various fish species. We sampled 1,438 high-, medium-, low-risk examined them for evidence disruption. Both incidence intersex significantly correlated natural (E1 E2) synthetic contraceptive pill (EE2) present. Predicted was, however, less well plasma vitellogenin concentration measured same fish. Moreover, found no correlation between any end points proportion industrial effluents entering studied. Overall, our results provide further substantive support hypothesis that steroidal freshwater Kingdom clearly show endocrine-disrupting effects can be predicted.