Endocrine disruption selectivity

In addition to reproductive effects, fish exposed to endocrine disrupters may have a decreased response to stress or decreased growth and metabolism which can affect their ability to survive, or to defend themselves against predators. All of these factors can affect the ability of the species to survive and to reproduce itself in sufficient numbers to maintain the stocks on which our commercial and sport fisheries are based. Not all fish species will be equally susceptible to the effects of endocrine disrupters. Selective sensitivity to such effects, especially those affecting reproduction, may well lead to major changes in the flora and fauna of some of our major aquatic ecosystems as the balance between fish, mammals, invertebrates and plants, and between predators and prey, is destabilised... 

The OECD has been very active in the development of a concensus on tests for endocrine disruption in fish, including selection of enhancements to guidelines... 

NakadaN, Shinohara H, Murata A, Kiri K, Managaki S, Sato N, Takada H (2007) Removal of selected pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during sand filtration and ozonation at a municipal sewage treatment plant. Water Res 41 4373-4382... 

Clara M, Strenn B, Cans O, Martinez E, Kreuzinger N, Kroiss H (2005) Removal of selected pharmaceuticals, fragrances and endocrine disrupting compounds in a membrane bioreactor and conventional wastewater treatment plants. Water Res 39 4797 807... 

The European Commission (EC) has sponsored four reports that evaluate a set of 553 substances selected by experts and stakeholders for assessment for endocrine disruption. Each report addresses a subset of the total set based on priorities such as whether the chemicals are persistent, bioaccumulating or High Production Volume chemicals and/or whether or not there is already regulatory control of the chemical. 

The Danish List of Undesirable Substances is a list of chemicals of concern that the government believes should be avoided to the extent feasible in commerce. Using a systematic analysis, substances are selected automatically if they meet some clear and defined criteria, for example, problematic classifications, because they are imder suspicion for being PBT/vPvB (Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic/very Persistent, very Bio accumulative) or endocrine-disrupting. 

Tan BL, Hawker DW, Muller JF, Tremblay LA, Chapman HF (2008) Stir bar sorptive extraction and trace analysis of selected endocrine disrupters in water, biosolids and sludge samples by thermal desorption with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Water Res 42 404 112... 

L6pez-Roldan P., de Alda M.J.L., and Barcelo D., 2004. Simultaneous determination of selected endocrine disrupters (pesticides, phenols and phthalates) in water by in-field solid-phase extraction (SPE) using the prototype PROFEXS followed by online SPE (PROSPEKT) and analysis by liquid chromatography-atomspheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 378 599. 

Lerch O. and P. Zinn (2003). Derivatization and gas chromatography-chemical ionization mass spectrometry of selected synthetic and natural endocrine disruptive chemicals. Journal of Chromatography A 991 77-97. 

Tan, B.L.L., D.W. Hawker, J.F. Muller, F.D.L. Leusch, L.A. Tremblay, and H.F. Chapman. 2007. Comprehensive study of endocrine disrupting compounds using grab and passive sampling at selected wastewater treatment plants in South East Queensland, Australia. Environ. Int. 33 654—669. 

Needham LL, Blount B, Rogers S, et al. 2000. Levels of selected nonpersistant endocrine disrupters in humans. In Analysis of environmental endocrine disrupters. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 147-157. 

For the purposes of this chapter, the term reproduction will be used primarily in reference to vertebrate species of animals (especially mammals) and will be inclusive of development (Figure 36.1), which is sometimes treated as a separate topic in toxicology texts. This particular chapter emphasizes what is currently known about the adverse effects of known chemical warfare agents and selected environmental contaminants on male and female reproductive function, as well as xenobiotic-induced effects on the growth, maturation, and sexual differentiation of the embryo and fetus. Endocrine disruption is an extremely common mechanism of action for xenobiotics associated with impaired reproductive function and will be discussed along... 

These types of assays may be used in several conceptually different approaches to environmental chemistry. One approach is using the in-vitro assays as a screening to select compounds with a potential for endocrine disruption for further studies to determine modes of action etc. with a battery of in-vivo and in-vitro assays. 

Fig. 2 (a) In vitro tests developed in the first 4 years of the ReProTect project (ELI FP6 2004-2009) relevant for female fertility, male fertility, developmental toxicity, and endocrine disruption, (b) Fourteen tests selected in the final year of the ReProTect project to participate in the feasibility study to be challenged against ten blind chemicals. (Drawing courtesy of Michael Schwarz)... 

Ulleras E, Ohlsson A, Oskarsson A (2008) Secretion of cortisol and aldosterone as a vulnerable target for adrenal endocrine disruption screening of 30 selected chemicals in the human H295R cell model. J Appl Toxicol 28(8) 1045-1053... 

Figure 1.2 Usage of selected pesticides in the United Kingdom between 1983 and 1997. The data are expressed as kilogrammes of active substance applied. The compounds included are carbaryl, dicofol, quinalphos, parathion, gamma-HCH, DDT, methoxy-chlor, amitrole, metribuzin, atrazine, linuron, diuron, 2,4,5-T, 2,4-D, nitrofen, trifluralin, fenarimol, sodium 2-phenylphenoxide, vinclozolin, ziram, zineb-ethylenethiuram disulfide zineb, thiram, maneb and mancozeb. Each has been alleged to exhibit some endocrine-disrupting properties...

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