10 research outputs found
17β-estradiol causes abnormal development in embryos of the viviparous eelpout
Elevated frequencies of malformations
among the offspring of Baltic
eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) have been
observed in aquatic environments receiving high anthropogenic input
suggesting that manmade chemicals could be the causative agent. However,
causal links between exposure to chemicals and abnormal development
have never been confirmed in laboratory experiments. The purpose of
this study was to investigate if exposure to 17β-estradiol (E2)
causes abnormal development in larvae of the viviparous eelpout. Wild
female eelpout were collected immediately after fertilization and
exposed to E2 concentrations ranging from 5.7 to 133 ng L<sup>–1</sup> for 6 weeks in a flow through test system. The experiment shows
that E2 concentrations of 53.6 and 133 ng L<sup>–1</sup> cause
severe abnormal development among eelpout embryos. Reduced amount
of ovarian fluid and increased weight of the ovarian sac indicate
disturbance of ovarian function. Female plasma concentrations of E2
and vitellogenin increase in a monotonic concentration–response
relationship with significant induction in the low concentration range.
Our findings support the plausibility that the abnormal development
among eelpout embryos encountered in monitoring programs may actually
be caused by exposure to chemicals in the environment
Exploring BPA alternatives – Environmental levels and toxicity review
Bisphenol A alternatives are manufactured as potentially less harmful substitutes of bisphenol A (BPA) that offer similar functionality. These alternatives are already in the market, entering the environment and thus raising ecological concerns. However, it can be expected that levels of BPA alternatives will dominate in the future, they are limited information on their environmental safety. The EU PARC project highlights BPA alternatives as priority chemicals and consolidates information on BPA alternatives, with a focus on environmental relevance and on the identification of the research gaps. The review highlighted aspects and future perspectives. In brief, an extension of environmental monitoring is crucial, extending it to cover BPA alternatives to track their levels and facilitate the timely implementation of mitigation measures. The biological activity has been studied for BPA alternatives, but in a non-systematic way and prioritized a limited number of chemicals. For several BPA alternatives, the data has already provided substantial evidence regarding their potential harm to the environment. We stress the importance of conducting more comprehensive assessments that go beyond the traditional reproductive studies and focus on overlooked relevant endpoints. Future research should also consider mixture effects, realistic environmental concentrations, and the long-term consequences on biota and ecosystems