Endocrine Disruption in the Marine Environment Mike Waldock Cefas Weymouth Laboratory Barrack Road Weymouth Dorset. UK DT48UB

Background to EDC First identified from eggs and sperm in the same tissue – intersex fish in UK rivers

Background to EDC Measurements of Yolk protein in male fish blood

Identification of causative substances

Testing the effects on fish Vitellogenin in male trout exposed to oestrone and 17ß oestradiol C / Initial Final * * oestrone (ng/l) E2 oes/E2

Testing the effects on fish

Vitellogenin in Male Trout Exposed to Octylphenol and 17 ß oestradiol CMC Initial Final OP µg/l E2 ng/l * * *

List of compounds Compounds: Ethyl estradiol (the pill) natural female hormones, industrial chemicals non-ionic surfactants, phthalates, bis phenol A, pesticides and biocides (metabolites DDE) Effects: Estrogens – male to female. Androgens female- to male. Anti-androgens, anti-estrogens.

Could there be a problem in the open sea? Flounder work showing decreasing trends Sewage related decreasing problem

TBT Antifouling on yachts 60’s- 80’s and on ships to date

TBT Good example of endocrine disruption before we called it ED.

TBT

TBT levels are decreasing and effects reducing Shetlands monitorin g by FRS

ICES Workshop and Cod Cod placed in cages At 500m from platforms – 5 fold increase in VTG in male cod At 2000m – background levels

Produced water discharges Largest wastewater stream in offshore oil & gas production (~ 340 x 10 6 m 3 yr -1 ). Complex composition: –small amounts of dispersed oil –dissolved organic compounds (including h/c) –organic acids –phenols –production chemicals –inorganic compounds

ER agonists identified in PW Isomeric mixture of C 1 to C 5 and C 9 alkyl substituted phenols (APs).

Is it enough to affect cod? Cod work trends with age

VTG in the plasma of male cod Scott andThainCEFAS (unpublished data) VTG µg/ml

Results to Present Widespread induction in large cod Lower but significant induction in prey fish – dab Next steps to identify the causes (TIE)

Conclusions Endocrine Disruption is present in the open sea at low levels. TBT related specifically to antifouling paint use on shipping and is being controlled Effects on fish are unlikely to be from sewage discharges of hormones because dilution would be too great Inputs from produced water seem to be only weakly estrogenic The relationship with the size of the fish suggests that the effect is due to compounds bioaccumulating up the food chain