Evidence of Detrimental Effects of Environmental Contaminants on Growth and Reproductive Physiology of White Sturgeon in Impounded Areas of the Columbia River

This study sought to determine whether wild white sturgeon from the Columbia River (Oregon) were exhibiting signs of reproductive endocrine disruption. Fish were sampled in the free-flowing portion of the river (where the population is experiencing reproductive success) and from three reservoirs behind hydroelectric dams (where fish have reduced reproductive success). All of the 18 pesticides and almost all of the 28 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that were analyzed in livers and gonads were detected in at least some of the tissue samples. Metabolites of p,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) [p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and p,p′-1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDD)] were consistently found at relatively high levels in fish. Some males and immature females showed elevated plasma vitellogenin; however, concentrations were not correlated with any of the pesticides or PCBs analyzed. Negative correlations were found between a number of physiologic parameters and tissue burdens of toxicants. Plasma triglycerides and condition factor were negatively correlated with total DDT (DDD + DDE + DDT), total pesticides (all pesticides detected – total DDT), and PCBs. In males, plasma androgens and gonad size were negatively correlated with total DDT, total pesticides, and PCBs. Fish residing in the reservoir behind the oldest dam had the highest contaminant loads and incidence of gonadal abnormalities, and the lowest triglycerides, condition factor, gonad size, and plasma androgens. These data suggest that endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be accumulating behind dams over time. Overall, results of this study indicate that exposure to environmental contaminants may be affecting both growth and reproductive physiology of sturgeon in some areas of the Columbia River

Organochlorine Contaminants in Blubber from Stranded Marine Mammals Collected from the Northern Oregon and Southern Washington Coasts; Implications for Re-introducing California Condors, Gymnogyps californianus, in Oregon

Re-introduction of California condors into Oregon is currently being considered, but there are concerns about the safety of potential food sources of this species. Condors are opportunistic feeders and a largely available food source for this species will be stranded marine mammal carcasses. We analyzed 37 blubber samples from 7 different marine mammal species collected from the Oregon and Southern Washington coasts for 18 OC pesticides and 16 PCBs. DDE was the most prevalent OC contaminant, making up more than 58% of the total OC concentration measured. There were no significant differences in OC content between species or sexes.Keywords: DDE, PCBs, Marine mammal

Widespread Contamination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in South Carolina and North Carolina (USA): A Legacy of Malarial Eradication and Mosquito Control

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) has been conducting fish tissue monitoring for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) since 1974 and, based on the results, restrictive fish consumption advice has been in place at two reservoirs in South Carolina for several decades. But in 2009, widespread contamination was reported in fish from the Catawba-Wateree and Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basins. Therefore, beginning in 2010, additional monitoring of fish tissue for PCBs in the rivers and reservoirs of these two basins was initiated. Results from a spatial analysis, combined with evidence from historic literature, suggests that the source of the PCB contamination, in part, is from past direct application of used transformer oil on reservoirs located along the two rivers, the origins of which were hydroelectric projects in both basins. The use of used motor oil for mosquito control and malaria eradication was widespread in the first half of the twentieth century, and results suggest that for some utility operations, PCB oil was utilized to augment these programs. The global ramifications of these findings are not yet known, but they should encourage reconsideration of origin, transport, and fate of PCBs in other regions, particularly where a known source of environmental contamination is not obvious

Mean plasma concentrations (± SE) of T (), KT (), and Vtg () and individual Vtg concentrations () in male and immature female white sturgeon from four locations on the Columbia River

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Evidence of Detrimental Effects of Environmental Contaminants on Growth and Reproductive Physiology of White Sturgeon in Impounded Areas of the Columbia River"</p><p>Environmental Health Perspectives 2005;113(12):1675-1682.</p><p>Published online 11 Jul 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1314904.</p><p>This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original DOI.</p> Each bar represents a sample size of 19–24 (). Means with different letters or numbers indicate a significant difference between locations or between sexes within a location, respectively (ANOVA, < 0.05)

Evidence of Detrimental Effects of Environmental Contaminants on Growth and Reproductive Physiology of White Sturgeon in Impounded Areas of the Columbia River-2

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Evidence of Detrimental Effects of Environmental Contaminants on Growth and Reproductive Physiology of White Sturgeon in Impounded Areas of the Columbia River"</p><p>Environmental Health Perspectives 2005;113(12):1675-1682.</p><p>Published online 11 Jul 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1314904.</p><p>This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original DOI.</p

Mean plasma concentrations (± SE) of TAG (), CF (), calcium (), and GSI () in white sturgeon from four locations on the Columbia River

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Evidence of Detrimental Effects of Environmental Contaminants on Growth and Reproductive Physiology of White Sturgeon in Impounded Areas of the Columbia River"</p><p>Environmental Health Perspectives 2005;113(12):1675-1682.</p><p>Published online 11 Jul 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1314904.</p><p>This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original DOI.</p> Each bar represents a sample size of 42–45. Means with different letters indicate a significant difference between locations (ANOVA, < 0.05)