Publication Abstract

The extent of oestrogenic contamination in the UK marine environment

Y. Allen, P. Matthiessen, A.P. Scott, S. Haworth, S.W. Feist and J. Thain

In 1996, CEFAS initiated a project to establish whether oestrogenic materials are present in UK estuarine and marine waters at biologically significant concentrations, and to investigate some of the possible effects which these may have in flounder (Platichthys flesus). Early results are published elsewhere; this paper describes the results of a second wider survey of vitellogenin and reproductive abnormalities in UK flounder. Vitellogenin levels in male blood plasma in the period spring to winter 1997 were found to be significantly elevated (in comparison with a clean reference site on the Aide estuary) in at least one sample from most of the 11 estuaries investigated. The exceptions were the Tamar and the Dee where fish appeared entirely normal. In broad terms, the degree of oestrogenic contamination as measured by male vitellogenesis in the various estuaries was ranked in the following descending order:

Tees > Mersey> Tyne > Wear = Humber = Clyde = Southampton Water = Thames> Dee = Tamar. VTG concentrations in Tees, Mersey and Tyne fish were extremely high (>100,000 ng/ml), and often exceeded those normally found in sexually mature females. At most locations, ovotestis conditions in male flounder were entirely absent but 9% of male Mersey fish and 7% of male Tyne fish contained ovotestis. In a few cases, eggs were fully developed with yolk granules. Most testes did not show gross morphological abnormalities related to oestrogenic exposure, although one testis from the Mersey appeared to be almost entirely composed of eggs. Abnormal sex ratios were not seen in any estuary. The paper concludes by outlining a new research programme which will be addressing the biological significance of these observations.

Reference:

Y. Allen, P. Matthiessen, A.P. Scott, S. Haworth, S.W. Feist and J. Thain 1999.The extent of oestrogenic contamination in the UK marine environment. Science of the Total Environment, 233(1): 5-20