Endocrine Disruptors in Estuarine Environments: We Still Need a Simple and Cost-Effective Framework for Environmental Monitoring

¹Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal

²Departamento de Biologia da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal

³Departamento de Geologia/Instituto de Geociências da Universidade Federal Fluminense, Av. General Milton Tavares de Souza, Campus da Praia Vermelha, 24210346 Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

*Corresponding Author:

Natividade Vieira
Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR/CIMAR)
Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289
4050-123 Porto, Portugal
Tel: +351 223 401 800
E-mail: mnvieira@fc.up.pt

Received date April 09, 2015; Accepted date April 13, 2015; Published date April 15, 2015

Citation: Nascimento MTL, Santos ADO, De Oliveira e Sá M, Pereira R, Vieira MN (2015) Endocrine Disruptors in Estuarine Environments: We Still Need a Simple and Cost-Effective Framework for Environmental Monitoring. J Marine Sci Res Dev 5:e136. doi:10.4172/2155-9910.1000e136

Copyright: © 2015 Nascimento MTL, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Visit for more related articles at Journal of Marine Science: Research & Development

Introduction

Due to runoffs, urban and industrial effluent discharges into the aquatic environment (both inland and costal), emergent pollutants like pharmaceuticals, pesticides and corresponding by-products, natural and artificial hormones and several industrial chemicals (e.g. alkylphenols, phthalates, bisphenol A, polychlorinated biphenyls) are starting to be detected at environmental concerning concentrations in several ecosystems [1,2]. River estuaries, in particular, are known for their high productivity, ecological value and for the functions they perform (e.g. food production) [3]. Thereby, the estuarine pollution is one of the most worrying [4], being highly affected by direct discharges and activities as well as by upstream contamination.

Some of the emergent compounds are endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs), as they interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system of invertebrates and vertebrates (fish, birds and reptiles), causing abnormalities in the reproductive system of animals, intersex gonads, changes in the expression patterns of genes involved in the synthesis of sexual hormones and of vitellogenin, reduction in the quantity of sperm, decrease in outbreaks of eggs delayed metamorphosis as well as changes in growth and behavior [5-11]. In humans, these effects include a reduction in sperm count, increased incidence of breast, testicular, prostate cancer and endometriosis [12]. Unfortunately, these pollutants resist to conventional treatments in water treatment plants [13] and several studies arise reporting meaningful concentrations of several EDCs in estuaries around the world, both in water and sediment compartments. For instance estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) have been found in different estuary waters and animals in Portugal [14-16], Spain [17], Australia [18], China [19] and Argentina [20], always in concentrations in the range of ngL^-1. Nonylphenol (NP) is another endocrine disruptor, resulting from the environmental breakdown of nonyphenol-oxylates (NPEO) which are important industrial surfactants, was also largely detected in Chinese rivers [13,21] as well as in Portugal [22] in the range of ngL^-1 too. Despite the low range of concentrations and although mixture effects cannot be discarded, EDCs have proved to be able to cause meaningful effects on biota. Further, the few PNEC (Predicted No Effect Concentrations) values available for some EDCs, derived based on species sensitivity distribution curves [e.g. EE2 – 0.1 ngL^-1 [23]; E2 – 2 ngL^-1 [23]; E1 – 6 ngL^-1 [23]; BPA – 1.5 gL^-1 [24]; NP – 0.48 and 0.28 gL^-1 for freshwater and marine organisms, respectively [25], provide an additional evidence of the high hazardous potential of each EDCs individually.

Table 1 summarizes some of the endocrine disruptors found around the world, accordingly some recent published studies and, with a brief calculation of hazardous quotients (HQ) using available PNECs it is possible to perceive that, considering each EDC individually high risks are expected for aquatic biota in almost all the systems monitored, since HQ highly greater than 1 were recorded.

Table 1: Environmental concentrations of some endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in water and sediments of different world river estuaries and corresponding hazard quotients (HQ) calculated based on available PNEC values (HQ=Environmental concentration/PNEC).

Another important point to be noted is the importance of developing analytical techniques to detect and identify these pollutants in low concentrations [19] in estuarine sediments and water. Available studies already provide a very relevant amount of ecotoxicological data that could be compiled to support the development of a simple and costeffective framework for monitoring EDCs in the environment. Such framework should include sensitive bio indicator species and sensitive, reliable and highly specific biomarkers to monitor the exposure and the effects of concerning concentrations of ECDs mixtures in the environment. The Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has already developed a conceptual framework for screening and testing chemicals for endocrine disruption [26], which will be crucial for registration and authorization purposes, as well as for the derivation of threshold values (PNECs) for a high number of EDCs. However, it is necessary to provide a tool-box and guidance to those involved in the management of water bodies, to track for concerning situations in a routine basis and to create an early warning system based on the analysis of the main discharges of a particular water body.

References

1. Rodil RQ, López MP, Muniategui-LS, Prada-RD (2009) Multi-residue analytical method for the determination of emerging pollutants in water by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of chromatography A 1216: 2958-69
2. Lapworth DJ, Baran N, Stuart ME, Ward RS (2012) Emerging organic contaminants in groundwater: a review of sources, fate and occurrence. Environmental pollution 163: 287-303
3. Costanza R, Arge R, de Groot R, Farber S, Grasso M, et al. (1997) The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature 387: 253-260
4. Bian H, Li Z, Liu P, Pan J (2010) Spatial distribution and deposition on history of nonylphenol and bisphenol A in sediments from the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and its adjacent east China Sea. ActaOceanologicaSinica 29: 44-51
5. Oliveira AG, Telles LF, Hess RA, Mahecha GAB, Oliveira CA (2007) Effects of the herbicide roundup on the epididymal region of drakes Anasplatyrhynchos. Reproductive Toxicology 23: 182-191
6. Ortiz-ZM, Cajaraville MP (2010) Intersex and oocyte atresia in a mussel population from the Biosphere’s Reserve of Urdaibai (Bay of Biscay). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 73: 193-701
7. Blanchet I, Lafont AG, Poirier L, Baloche S, Zalouk-Vergnoux A et al. (2013) Vg mRNA induction in an endangered fish species (Anguilla anguilla) from the Loire estuary France. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 97: 103-113
8. De los RA, Pérez L, Ortiz-Zarragoitia M, Serrano T, Barbero MC, et al. (2013)Assessing the effects of treated and untreated urban discharges to estuarine and coastal waters applying selected biomarkers on caged mussels. Marine Pollution Bulletin 77: 251-265
9. Halem ZM, Ross DJ, Cox RL (2014) Evidence for intraspecific endocrine disruption of Geukensiademissa (Atlantic ribbed mussel) in an urban watershed. Comparative biochemistry and physiology, part A 175: 1-6
10. Diehl J, Johnson SE, Xia K, West A, Tomanek L (2012) The distribution of 4 nonylphenol in marine organismos of North American Pacífica Coast estuaries. Chemosphere 87: 490-497
11. Valkusz Z, Nahyéri G, Radács M, Ocskó T, Hausinder P, et al. (2011) Further analysis of behavioral and endocrine consequences of chronic exposure of male Wistar rats to subtoxic doses of endocrine disruptor chlorobenzenes. Physiology &Behavior 103: 421-430
12. Birkett JW, Lester JN (2003) Endocrine disrupters in wastewater and sludge treatment process. Environmental Health Perspectives 111: 550
13. Wang B, Huang B, Jin W, Zhao S, Li F et al. (2013) Occurrence, distribution, and sources of six phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals in the 22 river estuaries around Dianchi Lake in China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 20: 3185-3194
14. Rocha MJ, Cruzeiro C, Rocha E (2013) Quantification of 17 endocrine disruptor compounds and their spatial and seasonal distribution in the Iberian Ave River and its coastline. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry 95: 386-399
15. Rocha MJ, Cruzeiro C, Reis M, Rocha E, Pardal MA (2013) Determination of 17 endocrine disruptor compounds and their spatial and seasonal distribution in the Sado River Estuary (Portugal). Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry 95: 237-253
16. Rocha MJ, Ribeiro M, Ribeiro C, Couto C, Cruzeiro C et al. (2012) Endocrine disruptors in the Leça River and nearby Porto Coast (NW Portugal): presence of estrogenic compounds and hypoxic conditions. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry 94: 262-274
17. Lopez de Alda MJ, Barcelo D (2001) Determination of steroid sex hormones and related synthetic compounds considered as endocrine disrupters in water by fully automated on-line solid-phase extraction liquid chromatography-diode array detection. JounalChromatografy A 911: 203-210
18. Ferguson EM, Allinson M, Allinson G, Sewearer SE, Hassell KL (2013) Fluctuations in natural and synthetic estrogen concentrations in a tidal estuary in south-eastern Australia. Water Research 47: 1604-1615
19. Yan C, Yang Y, Zhou J, Nie M, Liu M, et al. (2015) Selected emerging organic contaminants in the Yangtze Estuary, China: a comprehensive treatment of their association with aquatic colloids. Journal of Hazardous Material 283: 14-23
20. Valdés ME, Marino DJ, Wunderlin DA, Somoza GM, Ronco AEet al.(2015) Screening Concentration of E1, E2 and EE2 in Sewage Effluents and Surface Waters of the ‘‘Pampas’’ Region and the ‘‘Río de la Plata’’ Estuary (Argentina). Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 94: 29-33
21. Li Z, Gibson M, Liu C, Lu H (2013) Seasonal variation of nonylphenol concentrations and fluxes with influence of flooding in the Daliao River Estuary, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 185: 5221-5230
22. Rocha MJ, Cruzeiro C, Ferreira C, Rocha E (2012) Occurrence of endocrine disruptor compounds in the estuary of the Iberian Douro River and nearby Porto Coast (NW Portugal).Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry 94: 252-261
23. Caldwell DJ, Mastrocco F, Anderson PD, Länge R, Sumpter JP (2012) Predicted-no-effect concentrations for the steroid estrogensestrone, 17ß-estradiol, estriol, and 17a-ethinylestradiol. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 31: 1396-406
24. EuropeanComission - (2008)
25. Gao P, Li Z, Gibson M, Gao M, (2013) Ecological risk assessment of nonylphenol in coastal waters of China based on species sensitivity distribution model. Chemosphere 104: 113-119
26. Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development (2012) OECD framework for testing and assessment of endocrine disruptors.
27. Shi J, Liu X, Chen Q, Zhang H (2014) Spatial and seasonal distributions of estrogens and bisphenol A in the Yangtze River Estuary and the adjacent East China Sea. Chemosphere 111: 336-343
28. Rocha MJ, Cruzeiro C, Reis M, Pardal MA, Rocha E (2014) Spatial and seasonal distribution of 17 endocrine disruptor compounds in an urban estuary (Mondego River, Portugal): evaluation of the estrogenic load of the area. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 186: 3337-3350
29. Hsieh CY, Yang L, Kuo WC, Zen YP (2013) Efficiencies of freshwater and estuarine constructed wetlands forphenolic endocrine disruptor removal in Taiwan. Science of the Total Environment 463-464: 182-191
30. Kim DM, Kim S, Suk J, Chung YH, Kim YM et al. (2013) A study on the distribution of nonylphenol in estuaries in Busan, Krea. Journal Faculty of Agriculture Kyushu University 58: 313-318
31. Puy-Azurmendi E, Ortiz-Zarragoitia M, Villagrasa M, Kuster M, Aragón P et al. (2013) Endocrine disruption in thick lip grey mullet (Chelonlabrosus) from the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (Bay of Biscay, Southwestern Europe). Science of the Total Environment 443: 233-244