Presence of anthropogenic endocrine disruptors in local surface waters and their effects on the fish fauna.

GUSTAVO M. SOMOZA

Buenos Aires

Congreso; XXI Jornadas Anuales de la Sociedad Argentina de Biología ?Impacto del ambiente en el desarrollo, comportamiento y progenie de los seres vivos?; 2020

Sociedad Argentina de Biología

Natural and synthetic steroid hormones, excreted by humans and farmed animals, have been considered as important sources of environmental endocrine disruptors and have been detected in several water bodies around the world. Different estrogens, androgens and progestogens were measured in the wastewater treatment plant outfall (WWTPO) of Chascomús city (Buenos Aires province, Argentina), and receiving waters located downstream and upstream from the WWTPO, using solid phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The following natural hormones were measured: 17ß-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), estriol (E3), testosterone (T), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), progesterone (P), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) and the synthetic estrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2). Also, and to complement the analytical method, the estrogenic activity in these surface water samples was evaluated using the in vitro transactivation bioassay that measures the estrogen receptor (ER) activity using mammalian cells. All-natural steroid hormones measured, except 17OHP, were detected in all analyzed water samples. E3, E1, EE2 and DHT were the most abundant and frequently detected. Downstream of the WWTPO, the concentration levels of all compounds decreased reaching low levels at 4500 m from the WWTPO. Upstream, 1500 m from the WWTPO, six out of eight steroid hormones analyzed were detected: DHT, T, P, 17OHP, E3 and E2. The effects of waterborne steroids on local fish fauna will be shown and analyzed. Taken together these results show that organisms that inhabit this area can potentially be affected by these chemicals which could exert harmful effects on individuals, on their progeny or on populations.