Effects of Kraft Mill effluent on the sexuality of fishes: An environmental early warning
Arrhenoid or masculinized female fish species of the live-bearing family, Poeciliidae, have been observed for over thirteen years in specific southern streams which receive waste effluents from pulping mills. The complex mixture of organic compounds in kraft mill effluent (KME) has inhibited specific identification of causal agent(s). However, microbially degraded phytosterols (e.g. sitosterol or stigmastanol) in experimental exposures induce the same intersexual states that characterize affected female poeciliids sampled from KME streams. KME-polluted streams often exhibit a drastic reduction of fish species diversity and degrees of physiological stress, all of which suggests reduced reproduction in surviving forms. A potential ontogenetic or developmental response is demonstrated in American eels captured in one of these streams as well. The authors examine available information, including laboratory and experimental field exposures, and suggest directions for additional research as well as the need for environmental concern.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, FL (United States). Environmental Research Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 6502341
- Report Number(s):
- PB-93-168847/XAB; EPA-600/A-93/056
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Pub. in Chemically Induced Alterations in Sexuality of Fishes, p113-127 1992. See also PB--91-199893
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PAPER INDUSTRY
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FISHES
FRESH WATER
INFORMATION NEEDS
MONITORING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSIOLOGY
REPRODUCTION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SEX
SEX DEPENDENCE
SITOSTEROL
SPECIES DIVERSITY
STREAMS
USA
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CHEMICAL WASTES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
MASS TRANSFER
NONRADIOACTIVE WASTES
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
STEROIDS
STEROLS
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
WATER
WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology