PUBLICATION

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

Authors
Cooper, R., David, A., Kudoh, T., Tyler, C.R.
ID
ZDB-PUB-210613-8
Date
2021
Source
Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)   237: 105864 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Kudoh, Tetsuhiro, Tyler, Charles R.
Keywords
Biosensor, EDCs, Transgenic zebrafish, Wastewater effluent
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
  • Larva
  • Seasons
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical*/toxicity
  • Water Purification*
  • Zebrafish/genetics
PubMed
34118774 Full text @ Aquat. Toxicol.
Abstract
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.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping