[Pharmwaste] Pitt researchers fish for mutants

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 14:50:42 -0400

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http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/regional/s_354359.html

Pitt researchers fish for mutants

By  Allison M. Heinrichs
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, July 18, 2005=20

Male smallmouth bass developing eggs in the Potomac, carp with low sperm
counts in Nevada's Lake Mead and white suckers with male and female
characteristics in Colorado's South Platte River have Pittsburgh =
researchers
wondering what might be found in Western Pennsylvania's three rivers.=20

Starting this fall, several University of Pittsburgh researchers will =
hook
100 fish in the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers and analyze them =
--
and the water and sediment where they swim -- for estrogenic compounds =
and
other contaminants. Then they'll try to see what kind of effects those
compounds, similar to those found in birth control pills, could have on
humans.=20

"The fish are pretty much like the canary in the mine," said Dan Volz, a =
Pitt
Graduate School of Public Health professor and lead investigator of the
project, which will be paid for by DSF Charitable Foundation, the Heinz
Endowments and the Highmark Foundation. Much like miners used to know =
lethal
gases were present in mines when the sensitive caged canaries they =
brought
along died, Volz thinks fish will give an early indication of problems =
in
Western Pennsylvania's drinking water.=20

The compounds scientists believe are mutating fish might cause breast =
cancer
and reproductive problems in humans, said Pat Eagon, a Pitt Cancer =
Institute
professor participating in the study.=20

"If the fish are getting their hormones fouled up or their sexual =
development
fouled up, then you better believe it's a problem for us," Eagon said.=20

After they grind up the fish and extract any contaminants from the =
resulting
pulp, the researchers plan to introduce the contaminants to breast =
cancer
cells in a laboratory to see whether they cause the cells to =
proliferate,
Volz said.=20

A 2004 study by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Centers for =
Disease
Control and Prevention showed several pharmaceuticals and estrogen-like
compounds in industrial waste contaminating streams and rivers had made =
their
way into drinking water.=20

The levels detected in drinking water were less than 1 part per billion, =
far
less than doses prescribed by doctors. Lead author and USGS hydrologist =
Paul
Stackelberg said although the levels are low, the effects of continual
exposure are unknown, especially for the nonpharmaceutical contaminants. =

The study was not done in Pittsburgh, and local water treatment =
facilities do
not test for estrogenic compounds because such low levels are hard to =
detect.
The facilities also do not actively remove the compounds.=20

"It really pushes the envelope of detection," said Stan States, the =
water
quality manager for the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. "As far as
treatment and removal, we haven't seen anything from the (U.S. =
Environmental
Protection Agency), for example, or in environmental research on what we =
can
do to remove it."=20

Volz says he believes estrogen from birth control pills and hormone
replacement therapy drugs is making its way into Western Pennsylvania's
waters through sewer systems. Estrogen mimickers -- compounds that =
trigger
biological reactions similar to those caused by estrogen, found in =
everything
from industrial glues and plastics to pesticides and herbicides -- are =
washed
into the water in storm runoff.=20

In addition to testing the fish and their waters, the researchers will
interview semi-subsistence fishermen, who rely on river fish for meat, =
to
find out where they catch their fish and how they prepare them for
consumption to determine their risk of exposure.=20

To make their study as realistic as possible, the researchers will fish =
with
a hook and line, netting their catch of 50 channel catfish and 50 white =
bass
just like the fishermen, Volz said.=20

Timothy Gross, a USGS toxicologist who has consistently found low sperm
counts in fish near sewage outfall areas downriver from Las Vegas, said =
he
wouldn't be surprised if Western Pennsylvania's fish and waters yield
estrogen and estrogen mimickers.=20

"I guarantee you they'll detect estrogenics," Gross said of the Pitt
researchers. "There isn't any river in the United States today that =
doesn't
have estrogenics."=20

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has not done any research on
estrogenics or feminized male fish in Western Pennsylvania's rivers and =
isn't
aware that any studies have been done, said commission spokesman Daniel
Tredinnick.=20

In the Mahoning River, in Youngstown, Ohio, which received a lot of the =
same
pollutants dumped in Pittsburgh's rivers and tributaries during the =
city's
industrial heyday, Youngstown State University researchers found =
polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons -- an estrogen mimicker created through industrial
activities, cars and burned food -- in every site tested.=20

Although they didn't check the fish for feminization, Youngstown State
biology professor Carl Johnston said every fish pulled from the river =
for the
study had tumors or skin lesions.=20

In 2003, when fish from the Potomac River in West Virginia were =
developing
skin lesions at alarming rates, USGS researchers found that many of =
those
fish also had both male and female characteristics, such as immature =
eggs in
their testes.=20

"It wasn't something we were looking for, and it really wasn't something =
we
expected," said Vicki Blazer, a USGS fish pathologist studying the =
Potomac's
bass populations.=20

Because investigators were finding feminized male bass at such high =
rates,
some people suggested it was normal. Follow-up laboratory tests showed =
that
it wasn't, Blazer said.=20

The source of the Potomac contaminants isn't clear, Blazer said. Fish =
caught
just downstream from sewage treatment facilities had male and female
characteristics, indicating that pharmaceuticals flushed down drains and
municipal and industrial runoff were a problem. Male bass caught at the
Potomac's headwaters also showed feminine characteristics, suggesting =
that
agricultural runoff also could be a contributing factor, she said.=20

"There are many, many compounds that can act as estrogens -- what we =
find in
the headwaters in these areas of the Potomac ... may be very different =
from
what we find downstream," Blazer said. "These fish are being exposed to
something, and it's not normal."=20

=20

=20

Laurie J. Tenace

Environmental Specialist

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 4555

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400

PH: (850) 245-8759

FAX: (850) 245-8811

Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us

=20

view our mercury web pages at:=20

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm

=20

=20

=20

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DHelvetica><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;letter-spacin=
g:-.6pt'>http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/regional/s_35435=
9.html</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D5 color=3Dblack =
face=3DHelvetica><span
style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;letter-spacin=
g:-.6pt;
font-weight:bold'>Pitt researchers fish for =
mutants</span></font></b></p>

By &nbsp;Allison M. =
Heinrichs 
TRIBUNE-REVIEW 
Monday, July 18, =
2005

Male smallmouth bass developing eggs in the Potomac, =
carp
with low sperm counts in Nevada's Lake Mead and white suckers with male =
and
female characteristics in Colorado's South Platte River have Pittsburgh
researchers wondering what might be found in Western Pennsylvania's =
three
rivers.

Starting this fall, several =
University of Pittsburgh researchers will hook 100 fish in the =
Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers and analyze them -- and the water =
and sediment where they swim -- for
estrogenic compounds and other contaminants. Then they'll try to see =
what kind
of effects those compounds, similar to those found in birth control =
pills,
could have on humans.

&quot;The fish are pretty much =
like the
canary in the mine,&quot; said Dan Volz, a Pitt Graduate School of =
Public
Health professor and lead investigator of the project, which will be =
paid for
by DSF Charitable Foundation, the Heinz Endowments and the Highmark =
Foundation.
Much like miners used to know lethal gases were present in mines when =
the
sensitive caged canaries they brought along died, Volz thinks fish will =
give an
early indication of problems in Western Pennsylvania's drinking water. =

The compounds scientists believe =
are
mutating fish might cause breast cancer and reproductive problems in =
humans,
said Pat Eagon, a Pitt Cancer Institute professor participating in the =
study.

&quot;If the fish are getting their hormones fouled up or their sexual
development fouled up, then you better believe it's a problem for =
us,&quot;
Eagon said.

After they grind up the fish and =
extract
any contaminants from the resulting pulp, the researchers plan to =
introduce the
contaminants to breast cancer cells in a laboratory to see whether they =
cause
the cells to proliferate, Volz said.

A 2004 study by the U.S. =
Geological
Survey and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed =
several
pharmaceuticals and estrogen-like compounds in industrial waste =
contaminating
streams and rivers had made their way into drinking water. =

The levels detected in drinking =
water
were less than 1 part per billion, far less than doses prescribed by =
doctors.
Lead author and USGS hydrologist Paul Stackelberg said although the =
levels are
low, the effects of continual exposure are unknown, especially for the
nonpharmaceutical contaminants.

The study was not done in =
Pittsburgh, and local water treatment facilities do not test for =
estrogenic compounds
because such low levels are hard to detect. The facilities also do not =
actively
remove the compounds.

&quot;It really pushes the =
envelope of
detection,&quot; said Stan States, the water quality manager for the =
Pittsburgh
Water and Sewer Authority. &quot;As far as treatment and removal, we =
haven't
seen anything from the (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), for =
example, or
in environmental research on what we can do to remove it.&quot; =

Volz says he believes estrogen =
from birth
control pills and hormone replacement therapy drugs is making its way =
into Western Pennsylvania's waters through sewer systems. Estrogen =
mimickers -- compounds that
trigger biological reactions similar to those caused by estrogen, found =
in
everything from industrial glues and plastics to pesticides and =
herbicides --
are washed into the water in storm runoff.

In addition to testing the fish =
and their
waters, the researchers will interview semi-subsistence fishermen, who =
rely on
river fish for meat, to find out where they catch their fish and how =
they
prepare them for consumption to determine their risk of exposure. =

To make their study as realistic =
as
possible, the researchers will fish with a hook and line, netting their =
catch
of 50 channel catfish and 50 white bass just like the fishermen, Volz =
said.

Timothy Gross, a USGS =
toxicologist who
has consistently found low sperm counts in fish near sewage outfall =
areas
downriver from Las Vegas, said he wouldn't be surprised if Western =
Pennsylvania's
fish and waters yield estrogen and estrogen mimickers. =

&quot;I guarantee you they'll =
detect
estrogenics,&quot; Gross said of the Pitt researchers. &quot;There isn't =
any
river in the United States today that doesn't have estrogenics.&quot; =

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat =
Commission
has not done any research on estrogenics or feminized male fish in =
Western
Pennsylvania's rivers and isn't aware that any studies have been done, =
said
commission spokesman Daniel Tredinnick.

In the Mahoning River, in =
Youngstown, Ohio, which received a lot of the same pollutants dumped in =
Pittsburgh's
rivers and tributaries during the city's industrial heyday, Youngstown =
State University researchers found polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -- =
an estrogen
mimicker created through industrial activities, cars and burned food -- =
in
every site tested.

Although they didn't check the =
fish for
feminization, Youngstown State biology professor Carl Johnston said =
every fish
pulled from the river for the study had tumors or skin lesions. =

In 2003, when fish from the =
Potomac River
in West Virginia were developing skin lesions at alarming rates, USGS
researchers found that many of those fish also had both male and female
characteristics, such as immature eggs in their testes. =

&quot;It wasn't something we =
were looking
for, and it really wasn't something we expected,&quot; said Vicki =
Blazer, a
USGS fish pathologist studying the Potomac's bass populations. =

Because investigators were =
finding
feminized male bass at such high rates, some people suggested it was =
normal.
Follow-up laboratory tests showed that it wasn't, Blazer said. =

The source of the Potomac =
contaminants
isn't clear, Blazer said. Fish caught just downstream from sewage =
treatment
facilities had male and female characteristics, indicating that =
pharmaceuticals
flushed down drains and municipal and industrial runoff were a problem. =
Male
bass caught at the Potomac's headwaters also showed feminine =
characteristics,
suggesting that agricultural runoff also could be a contributing factor, =
she
said.

&quot;There are many, many =
compounds that
can act as estrogens -- what we find in the headwaters in these areas of =
the Potomac ... may be very different from what we find =
downstream,&quot; Blazer said.
&quot;These fish are being exposed to something, and it's not =
normal.&quot;

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Laurie
J. Tenace</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Environmental
Specialist</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Florida
Department of Environmental Protection</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>2600</span></font><font
 size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> Blair Stone Road, =
MS</span></font><font
size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> 4555</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Tallahassee</span></font><font
 size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>, Florida =
32399-2400</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>PH:
(850) 245-8759</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>FAX:
(850) 245-8811</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><a
href=3D"mailto:Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us">Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.=
us</a></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>view
our mercury web pages at: </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><a
href=3D"http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm">=
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm</a></span=
></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

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