De Brabander, H.

De Wasch, K.

Deneudt, K.

Fockedey, N.

Ghekiere, A.

Janssen, C.R.

Mees, J.

Monteyne, E.

Noppe, H.

Roose, P.

Vanden Berghe, E.

Verslycke, T.

Vethaak, D.

Vincx, M.

Verslycke, Tim

Ghekiere, A

Fockedey, Nancy

Roose, P

De Wasch, K

Vethaak, D

Mees, Jan

Monteyne, E

Noppé, H

Deneudt, Klaas

Vanden Berghe, Edward

Vincx, Magda

De Brabander, H

Janssen, Colin

Ghent University Academic Bibliography

The Endis-Risks project: endocrine disruption in the Scheldt estuary: distribution, exposure and effects

Open Marine Archive

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
            Book of  
         abstracts 
 
                     VLIZ Young  
                Scientists’ Day 
 
                Brugge, Belgium 
                28 February 2003 
 
 
- i -
VLIZ Special Publication 12
2003 
THE ENDIS-RISKS PROJECT: ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION IN THE SCHELDT 
ESTUARY – DISTRIBUTION, EXPOSURE AND EFFECTS 
Verslycke Tim1, An Ghekiere1, Nancy Fockedey2, Patrick Roose3, Katia De Wasch4, Dick 
Vethaak5, Jan Mees6, Els Monteyne3, Herlinde Noppe4, Klaas Deneudt6, Edward Vanden 
Berghe6, Magda Vincx2, Hubert De Brabander4 and Colin Janssen1
1 Ghent University (RUG), Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology 
Jozef  Plateaustraat  22, B-9000 Gent, Belgium 
 E-mail: tim.verslycke@rug.ac.be
2 Ghent University (RUG), Biology Department, Marine Biology Section  
 Campus De Sterre, Krijgslaan 281/S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium 
3 Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM) 
 2e en 23e Linieregimentsplein, B-8400 Oostende, Belgium  
4 Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium 
5 National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management (RIKZ) 
 Grenadiersweg 31, Postbus 8039, NL-4330 EA Middelburg, The Nederlands 
6 Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Vismijn, Pakhuizen 45-52, B-8400 Oostende, Belgium 
The first indications of possible effects of endocrine disrupting substances and the presence of 
these substances in the Scheldt Estuary have recently been published. The industrial areas of 
Ghent and Antwerp are to a large extent responsible for this pollution. Therefore, there is an 
obvious need to investigate the occurrence of endocrine disruption in the Scheldt Estuary. In 
addition, a detailed knowledge of the distribution and long-term effects of these substances is 
needed in the framework of future-oriented policy measures at the national and European 
level.  The Endis-Risks project, a multidisciplinary consortium between five different research 
institutes, will evaluate the distribution, exposure and effects of endocrine disruptors in the 
Scheldt Estuary. An extended list of endocrine disruptors and the in vitro estrogen and 
androgen potency will be analyzed in water, sediment and suspended solids. In addition, 
body burdens of these endocrine disruptors will be analyzed in biota (mysid shrimp and 
gobies) and linked with in situ biomarker responses and population effects in resident mysid 
populations. Field samples and in situ studies will run over four years (3 campaigns per year). 
The field study will allow an identification of potential problem chemicals with endocrine 
disruptive activity in the Scheldt Estuary. These chemicals will be further evaluated through 
laboratory exposures with mysid shrimp to evaluate the acute and chronic effects on 
endocrine regulated processes in these animals (energy and (ecdy)steroid metabolism, 
vitellogenesis, specific protein expression,…).  The results of laboratory and field studies will 
be linked to come to an integrated risk estimation for endocrine disruptors in the Scheldt 
Estuary. The Endis-Risks project, its website, project partners, goals and planning will be 
presented. 
 
Keywords: Endocrine disruption; Neomysis integer; Scheldt Estuary; Life history. 
 - 59 -


The Endis-Risks project: endocrine disruption in the Scheldt estuary: distribution, exposure and effects

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