Pollution by oestrogenic endocrine disruptors and β-sitosterol in a south-western European river (Mira, Portugal)

Fertaric acid amends bisphenol A-induced toxicity, DNA breakdown, and histopathological changes in the liver, kidney, and testis

BACKGROUND

Bisphenol A (BPA) is present in many plastic products and food packaging. On the other hand, fertaric acid (FA) is a hydroxycinnamic acid.

AIM

To investigate the effect of FA on BPA-related liver, kidney, and testis toxicity, DNA breakdown, and histopathology in male rats.

METHODS

Thirty male albino rats were divided into five equal groups (6 rats/group): Control, paraffin oil, FA-, BPA-, and FA + BPA-treated groups. The control and paraffin oil groups were administered orally with 1 mL distilled water and 1 mL paraffin oil, respectively. The FA-, BPA-, and FA+ BPA-treated groups were administered orally with FA (45 mg/kg, bw) dissolved in 1 mL distilled water, BPA (4 mg/kg, bw) dissolved in 1 mL paraffin oil, and FA (45 mg/kg, bw) followed by BPA (4 mg/kg, bw), respectively. All these treatments were given once a day for 6 wk.

RESULTS

BPA induced a significant decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, sodium, potassium and chloride, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and testis protein levels but a highly significant increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, uric acid, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, sex hormone binding globulin, blood urea nitrogen, and testis cholesterol levels. Also, FA inhibited the degradation of liver, kidney, and testis DNA content. Oral administration of FA to BPA-treated rats restored all the above parameters to normal levels.

CONCLUSION

FA ameliorates BPA-induced liver, kidney, and testis toxicity, DNA breakdown, and histopathological changes.

Occurrence and distribution of estrogenic substances in the northern South China Sea

Estrogenic substances are today among the contaminants of emerging concern. Besides naturally occurring estrogens, other natural and synthetic substances can mimic a hormonal action due to their structural resemblance to hormones, possibly affecting the endocrine system of living organisms. Estrogens have been detected in inland water bodies such as influents and effluents of waste water treatment plants as well as in rivers, but data on their distribution and variability in the marine ecosystem are still limited. Surface water samples obtained during two research cruises on the northern shelf of the South China Sea (SCS) near the Pearl River Estuary, in September 2018 and in August 2019, were investigated for estrogenic substances, namely estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), genistein (GEN), daidzein (DAI) and zearalenone (ZEN). Among the target analytes, the natural hormones E1 and E2, as well as the synthetic EE2, were the most abundant with maximum concentrations of 1.1 ng L^-1, 0.7 ng L^-1 and 0.6 ng L^-1, respectively. Of substances produced by plants and fungi, GEN, DAI and ZEN, only GEN was detected (1.2 ng L^-1). High concentrations occurred predominantly close to the coast, which was also reflected in the calculated estradiol equivalent quotients (up to 1.4 ng L^-1). In general, the distribution of estrogenic substances observed in both years shows a regional and inter-annual variability consistent with the modeled surface current data for the SCS. Regarding single estrogenic compounds and estradiol equivalents, marine organisms in the northern SCS might be exposed to high potential risk.

Assessment of 17α-ethinylestradiol effects in Daphnia magna: life-history traits, biochemical and genotoxic parameters

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in aquatic ecosystems and the need to study them have increased over the years since they enter continuously the environment. Besides, these compounds are not intended for applications with environmental purposes, and therefore, little is known about their ecological effects, particularly in non-target organisms, as invertebrate species. Inside these substances, endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) have recently come into the limelight, due to environmental concentrations and consequently their detrimental effects on different organisms. 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) has been detected in the aquatic environment in various locations around the globe since it is the main synthetic hormone used as a female oral contraceptive and is also applied in veterinary medicine and animal production. The present study was intended to assess the chronic effects of EE2, in the non-target organism as Daphnia magna. Thus, to analyze the individual and subindividual impact, this aquatic organism was chronically exposed (21 days) to 0.00 (control group), 0.10, 1.00, 10.0, and 100 μg/L of EE2. Results here obtained demonstrated that D. magna exposed to the EE2 concentrations had significant effects in individual (life-history) and sub-individual (biochemical levels) parameters. Alterations as anticipation in the age at first reproduction, a decrease of the growth rate, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation were detected, as well as genotoxic damage. Therefore, it was possible to infer that EE2 can disrupt several metabolic pathways and physiological functions of D. magna, since EE2 demonstrated ecotoxicity, at environmentally relevant concentrations. This work reinforces the importance of examining the effects of more relevant exposures (more prolonged and with ecologically pertinent concentrations) of potential endocrine disruptors like EE2, to the freshwater organisms and ecosystem.

Watershed scale patterns in steroid hormones composition and content characters at a typical eutrophic lake in southeastern China

Natural steroid hormones in the aquatic environment have attracted increasing attention because of their strong endocrine disrupting potency. Seven steroid hormones (estrone, 17α-estradiol, 17β-estradiol, estriol, testosterone, androstenedione, and progesterone) were analyzed from surface water and sediment sampled from Chaohu Lake, its upstream rivers (the Hangbu River, Nanfei River, Shiwuli River, and Pai River), drainage from the adjacent farmland, and treated and untreated municipal sewage. Concentrations of the seven target steroid hormones ranged from below the detection limit (ND) to 69.5 ng L^-1 in the water of Chaohu Lake and the upstream rivers. Three steroids-estrone, estriol, and 17α-estradiol-were found in relatively high residual concentrations in the water, with maximum concentrations of 69.5 ng L^-1, 51.5 ng L^-1, and 23.3 ng L^-1, respectively. All of the target steroid hormones except estriol were detected in the sediment in concentrations of ND-16344 ng kg^-1. The dominant steroid hormone in the sediment of Chaohu Lake and the upstream rivers was 17α-estradiol. In the Shiwuli River and the Pai River, the dominant steroid hormones (estrone and estriol) were the same as those in the untreated municipal sewage. This confirmed the deduction that untreated municipal sewage was the major source of steroid hormone residues in these two rivers. The main steroid hormone in the water of the Hangbu River and Chaohu Lake was 17α-estradiol, the same as that in the farmland drainage. In addition, 17α-estradiol was verified as the major factor in the contribution of farmland drainage to the pollution in these rivers. The water in the Nanfei River had high concentrations of estriol and 17α-estradiol. This indicates that both untreated municipal sewage and farmland drainage were the major sources. The discharge of steroid hormones from the four rivers to Chaohu Lake was approximately 75.1 kg year^-1, with the highest contributor being 17α-estradiol (24 kg year^-1). Therefore, based on the results of this study, the farmland drainage should be controlled to reduce the steroid hormone pollution in Chaohu Lake.

Antioxidant responses and DNA damage in primary hepatocytes of Van fish (Alburnus tarichi, Güldenstadt 1814) exposed to nonylphenol or octylphenol

Alkylphenols, a nonionic surface-active agent group, such as nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) are important endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC). In this study, the dose- and time-dependent effects of NP and OP were investigated in the primary hepatocyte culture of Van Fish. In this study, samples were taken at different times and biochemical parameters were studied separately. The effects of the chemicals used on SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, MDA, and 8-OHdG were investigated in hepatocyte culture. The antioxidants SOD and CAT were observed to increase in all groups in the primary hepatocyte cultures at the 24th hour after NP and OP administration, whereas the GSH-Px level was observed to increase with OP at the 24th hour and with NP at the 48th hour. The MDA level was observed to reach its highest value for both chemicals in the 24th hour, and the 8-OHdG level was observed to increase toward the end of the follow-up time, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, different doses of NP and OP were found to induce an increase in the levels of antioxidants and the MDA level in Van Fish primary hepatocyte culture. DNA damage, on the other hand, may be considered to appear after longer-term exposure to NP and OP.

A review on environmental monitoring of water organic pollutants identified by EU guidelines

The contamination of fresh water is a global concern. The huge impact of natural and anthropogenic organic substances that are constantly released into the environment, demands a better knowledge of the chemical status of Earth's surface water. Water quality monitoring studies have been performed targeting different substances and/or classes of substances, in different regions of the world, using different types of sampling strategies and campaigns. This review article aims to gather the available dispersed information regarding the occurrence of priority substances (PSs) and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) that must be monitored in Europe in surface water, according to the European Union Directive 2013/39/EU and the Watch List of Decision 2015/495/EU, respectively. Other specific organic pollutants not considered in these EU documents as substances of high concern, but with reported elevated frequency of detection at high concentrations, are also discussed. The search comprised worldwide publications from 2012, considering at least one of the following criteria: 4 sampling campaigns per year, wet and dry seasons, temporal and/or spatial monitoring of surface (river, estuarine, lake and/or coastal waters) and ground waters. The highest concentrations were found for: (i) the PSs atrazine, alachlor, trifluralin, heptachlor, hexachlorocyclohexane, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate; (ii) the CECs azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, diclofenac, 17α-ethinylestradiol, imidacloprid and 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate; and (iii) other unregulated organic compounds (caffeine, naproxen, metolachlor, estriol, dimethoate, terbuthylazine, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, ketoprofen, atenolol, Bisphenol A, metoprolol, carbofuran, malathion, sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine and ofloxacin). Most frequent substances as well as those found at highest concentrations in different seasons and regions, together with available risk assessment data, may be useful to identify possible future PS candidates.

Knowledge, perceptions, and practice of ecopharmacovigilance among pharmacy professionals in China

Ecopharmacovigilance (EPV) is now a well-accepted critical component for the control of potential environmental risk posed by pharmaceutical residues. And improving the knowledge and perceptions about EPV, especially among pharmacy professionals, is the first step towards addressing the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and practice on EPV using a validated self-administered questionnaire delivered to a sample of 120 pharmacy professionals in Hubei Province, China. And 107 usable survey instruments were acquired. The mean score for knowledge about EPV was 3.85 out of a total of 10. The pharmacy professionals' overall perceptions of EPV and pharmaceutical pollution in environment were positive. But of the 107 respondents, 45 (42%) stated that they had not participated in any EPV measure. In addition, none had received training on EPV, and only 25 (23%) respondents had read the literature on EPV. In response to the question about the major perceived barrier to the effective implementation of EPV in China, 45 (42%) respondents chose the answer "poor awareness of EPV." These data suggests most pharmacy professionals in China had a positive attitude but lack of knowledge and practices towards EPV. Therefore, more should be done to enhance pharmacy professionals' knowledge on EPV.

Estrogens Promote the Production of Natural Neutralizing Antibodies in Fish through G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor 1

Natural antibodies play crucial roles in pathogen elimination, B-cell survival and homeostasis, and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Although estrogens are able to regulate both innate and adaptive immune responses, their role in the production of natural antibodies is unknown. Here, we show that the dietary intake of the synthetic estradiol analog, 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE₂), one of the most potent pharmaceutical estrogens and intensively used in human therapeutics as a component of most oral contraceptives, regulates the abundance and proliferation of T and IgM⁺ B lymphocytes in the teleost fish gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.). Furthermore, for the first time in vertebrates, it is shown that estrogen signaling through G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) induces the production of polyreactive natural antibodies, which are able to crossreact with unrelated antigens and commensal and pathogenic bacteria. In addition, the serum from fish treated with EE₂ or the GPER1 agonist G1 shows higher complement-dependent bactericidal activity than that from non-treated specimens. These results demonstrate that estrogens and GPER1 are the key regulators of natural antibody production and pathogen clearance in fish, paving the way for future studies in other vertebrate classes.