Effects
of Exposure to WwTW Effluents over Two Generations
on Sexual Development and Breeding in Roach <i>Rutilus rutilus</i>
- Publication date
- Publisher
Abstract
Exposure
to environmental estrogens in wastewater treatment works
(WwTW) effluents induces feminized responses in male fish, including
the development of eggs in male testes. However, the impacts on the
offspring of exposed fish are not well understood. In this study,
we examined whether roach (Rutilus rutilus) from mothers that had been exposed to an undiluted WwTW effluent
from early life to sexual maturity had altered susceptibility to gonadal
feminization and an impaired capacity to reproduce. For males from
both WwTW effluent exposed mothers and dilution water exposed mothers,
effluent exposure for up to 3 years and 9 months induced feminized
male gonads, although the intersex condition was relatively mild.
There was no difference in the severity of gonadal feminization in
roach derived from either WwTW effluent exposed or dilution water
exposed mothers. Furthermore, a breeding study revealed that roach
with effluent-exposed mothers reproduced with an equal success as
roach with mothers exposed to clean water. Roach exposed to the effluent
for 3 years in this study were able to reproduce successfully. Our
findings provide no evidence for impacts of WwTW effluent exposure
on reproduction or gonadal disruption in roach down the female germ
line and add to existing evidence that male roach with a mild intersex
condition are able to breed competitively