Evaluating the Potential of Effluents and Wood Feedstocks from Pulp and Paper Mills in Brazil, Canada, and New Zealand to Affect Fish Reproduction: Chemical Profiling and In Vitro Assessments

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 1849 - 1858
• Main Authors: Milestone, Craig B, Orrego, Rodrigo, Scott, Philip D, Waye, Andrew, Kohli, Jagmohan, O’Connor, Brian I, Smith, Brendan, Engelhardt, Heidi, Servos, Mark R, MacLatchy, Deborah L, Smith, D. Scott, Trudeau, Vance L, Arnason, John T, Kovacs, Tibor, Heid Furley, Tatiana, Slade, Alison H, Holdway, Douglas A, Hewitt, L. Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 07.02.2012
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Analysis of Variance; Androgens; Animal reproduction; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Canada; Chromatography, Gas; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Effluents; Endocrine disruptors; Endocrine Disruptors - toxicity; Enzymes; Estrogens - agonists; Fish; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glutamate Decarboxylase - metabolism; Goldfish; Monoamine Oxidase - metabolism; Neurotransmitters; New Zealand; Pulp & paper mills; Raw materials; Receptors, Androgen - drug effects; Receptors, Androgen - metabolism; Reproduction - drug effects; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Toxicology; Waste Products - adverse effects; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; South America; New Zealand; Canada; America; Brazil; North America; Oceania; Vertebrata; Reproduction; Animal community; Pisces; Paper pulp; Wood industry; Paper mill; Endocrine disruptor; Water pollution; Effluent
• DOI: 10.1021/es203382c
• ISSN: 0013-936X

This study investigates factors affecting reproduction in fish exposed to pulp and paper mill effluents by comparing effluents from countries with varying levels of documented effects. To explore the hypothesis of wood as a common source of endocrine disrupting compounds, feedstocks from each country were analyzed. Analyses included in vitro assays for androgenic activity (binding to goldfish testis androgen receptors), estrogenic activity (yeast estrogen screen), and neurotransmitter enzyme inhibition (monoamine oxidase and glutamic acid decarboxylase). Chemical analyses included conventional extractives, known androgens, and gas chromatograph index (GCI) profiles. All effluents and wood contained androgenic activity, particularly in nonpolar fractions, although known androgens were undetected. Effluents with low suspended solids, having undergone conventional biotreatment had lower androgenic activities. Estrogenic activity was only associated with Brazilian effluents and undetected in wood. All effluents and wood inhibited neurotransmitter enzymes, predominantly in polar fractions. Kraft elemental chlorine free mills were associated with the greatest neurotransmitter inhibition. Effluent and wood GCI profiles were correlated with androgenic activity and neurotransmitter enzyme inhibition. Differences in feedstock bioactivities were not reflected in effluents, implying mill factors mitigate bioactive wood components. No differences in bioactivities could be discerned on the basis of country of origin, thus we predict effluents in regions lacking monitoring would affect fish reproduction and therefore recommend implementing such programs.