Demasculinization and feminization of male gonads by atrazine:Consistent effects across vertebrate classes

Atrazine is the most commonly detected pesticide contaminant of ground water, surface water, and precipitation. Atrazine is also an endocrine disruptor that, among other effects, alters male reproductive tissues when animals are exposed during development. Here, we apply the nine so-called "Hill criteria" (Strength, Consistency, Specificity, Temporality, Biological Gradient, Plausibility, Coherence, Experiment, and Analogy) for establishing cause-effect relationships to examine the evidence for atrazine as an endocrine disruptor that demasculinizes and feminizes the gonads of male vertebrates. We present experimental evidence that the effects of atrazine on male development are consistent across all vertebrate classes examined and we present a state of the art summary of the mechanisms by which atrazine acts as an endocrine disruptor to produce these effects. Atrazine demasculinizes male gonads producing testicular lesions associated with reduced germ cell numbers in teleost fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, and induces partial and/or complete feminization in fish, amphibians, and reptiles. These effects are strong (statistically significant), consistent across vertebrate classes, and specific. Reductions in androgen levels and the induction of estrogen synthesis - demonstrated in fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals - represent plausible and coherent mechanisms that explain these effects. Biological gradients are observed in several of the cited studies, although threshold doses and patterns vary among species. Given that the effects on the male gonads described in all of these experimental studies occurred only after atrazine exposure, temporality is also met here. Thus the case for atrazine as an endocrine disruptor that demasculinizes and feminizes male vertebrates meets all nine of the "Hill criteria".Fil: Hayes, Tyrone B.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Anderson, Lloyd L.. University of Iowa; Estados UnidosFil: Beasley, Val R.. University of Illinois at Urbana; Estados UnidosFil: de Solla, Shane R.. Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate; CanadáFil: Iguchi, Taisen. National Institute for Basic Biology; JapónFil: Ingraham, Holly. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Kestemont, Patrick. Université de Namur; BélgicaFil: Kniewald, Jasna. University of Zagreb; CroaciaFil: Kniewald, Zlatko. University of Zagreb; CroaciaFil: Langlois, Valerie. Royal Military College; CanadáFil: Luque, Enrique Hugo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Fisiología. Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Tumores Hormonodependientes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: McCoy, Krista A.. University of South Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Muñoz de Toro, Monica Milagros. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Fisiología. Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Tumores Hormonodependientes; ArgentinaFil: Oka, Tomohiro. IDEA Consultants; JapónFil: Oliveira, Cleida A. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Orton, Frances. Colegio Universitario de Londres; Reino UnidoFil: Ruby, Sylvia. Concordia University; CanadáFil: Suzawa, Miyuki. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Tavera Mendoza, Luz E.. Harvard Medical School; Estados UnidosFil: Trudeau, Vance L.. University of Ottawa; CanadáFil: Victor Costa, Anna Bolivar. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Willingham, Emily. No especifica

Problems associated with the presence of cyanobacteria in recreational and drinking waters

Eutrophication of waters can lead to the development of blooms of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and consequent health and environmental problems. The presence of these organisms in recreational and drinking waters is generally undesirable or even hazardous, although nitrogen fixing blue-green algae can be beneficially used as biofertilisers for plantation crops. This paper reviews the characteristics of cyanobacteria and particularly their toxins. The mechanisms of toxic algal blooms are discussed, as are the factors influencing toxin production. The nuisance and health hazards associated with freshwater bluegreen algae are discussed and the options for public health control are evaluated. The problems associated with statutory control of toxic algae problems is also considered