4.7 Article

Seasonal variation in oestrogenic potency and biological effects of wastewater treatment works effluents assessed using ERE-GFP transgenic zebrafish embryo-larvae

Journal

AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
Volume 237, Issue -, Pages -

Publisher

ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105864

Keywords

Transgenic zebrafish; EDCs; Wastewater effluent; Biosensor

Funding

  1. Biology and Biotechnology Research Council [BB/K501281/1]
  2. University of Exeter
  3. Marie Curie Intra European Fellowship within the European Community Seventh Framework Programme ([FP7/2007-2013]) [302097]

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Effluents from wastewater treatment works have varying estrogenic activity and health effects on fish, with the use of ERE-GFP transgenic zebrafish proving to be an effective model for monitoring these effects.
Effluents from wastewater treatment works (WwTW) exhibit both temporal and spatial variation in oestrogenicity, however few studies have attempted to quantify how this variation affects biological responses in fish. Here we used an oestrogen-responsive green fluorescent protein (ERE-GFP) transgenic zebrafish (Danio rerio) to quantify oestrogenic activity and health effects for exposure to three different WwTW effluents. Endpoints measured included survival/hatching rate, GFP induction (measured in target tissues or gfp mRNA induction in whole embryos) and vtg mRNA induction in whole embryos. Exposure to one of the study effluents (at 100%), resulted in some mortality, and exposure to all three effluents (at 50% and 100%) caused decreases in hatching rates. Higher levels of vtg mRNA corresponded with higher levels of steroidal oestrogens in the different effluents, with lowest-observed-effect concentrations (LOECs) between 31 ng/L and 39 ng/L oestradiol equivalents (EEQs). Tissue patterns of GFP expression for all three WwTWs effluents reflected the known targets for steroidal oestrogens and for some other oestrogenic chemicals likely present in those effluents (i.e. nonylphenol or bisphenolic compounds). GFP induction was similarly responsive to vtg mRNA induction (a well-established biomarker for oestrogen exposure). We thus demonstrate the ERE-GFP transgenic zebrafish as an effective model for monitoring the oestrogenic potency and health effects for exposure to complex mixtures of chemicals contained within WwTW effluents.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.7
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available