Potomac Water Watch

Serving the Potomac River Watershed and Its Tributaries

Focusing on Fish Kills, Intersex, Emerging Contaminants and Endocrine Disrupters

EMERGING CONTAMINANTS

According to the United States Geological Society (USGS) these can be broadly defined as any synthetic or naturally occurring chemical or any microorganism that is not commonly monitored in the environment but has the potential to enter the environment and cause know or suspected adverse ecological and(or)human health effects. In some cases, release of emerging chemical or microbial contaminants to the environment has likely occurred for a long time, but may not have been recognized until new detection methods were developed. Another cases synthesis of new chemicals or changes in the use and disposal of existing chemicals can create new source of emerging contaminants

Source: http://toxics.usgs.gov/regional/emc/index.html

ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS

According to United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) disrupting the endocrine system can occur in various ways. Some chemicals can mimic a natural hormone, fooling the body into over-responding to the stimulus (e.g., a growth hormone that results in increased muscle mass) or responding at inappropriate times (e.g., producing insulin when it is not needed). Other endocrine disrupting chemicals can block the effects of a hormone from certain receptors. Still others can directly stimulate or inhibit the endocrine system, causing overproduction or underproduction of hormones. Certain drugs are used to intentionally cause some of these effects, such as birth control pills. In many situations involving environmental chemicals, an endocrine effect may not be desirable. In recent years, some scientists have proposed that chemicals might inadvertently be disrupting the endocrine system of humans and wildlife. A variety of chemical have

been found to disrupt the endocrine systems of animals in laboratory studies, and compelling evidence shows that endocrine systems of certain fish and wildlife have been effected by chemical contaminants, resulting in developmental and reproductive problems. However, the relationship of human diseases of the endocrine system and exposure to environmental contaminants is poorly understood and scientifically controversial.

Source: www.epa.gov/scipoly/oscpendo/pubs/edspoverview/primer.htm)

INTERSEX

According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), intersex fish, may occur as a result of chemicals in the water that mimic or antagonize hormone levels. Known as endocrine disruptors, these substances can interfere with an organism’s normal hormone functions. Endocrine disruption has the potential to compromise proper development, leading to reproductive, behavioral, immune system and neurological problems, as well as the development of cancer. Endocrine disruptor compounds can enter a waterway from sewage outfalls, industrial and municipal pollution, and agricultural runoff. Endocrine disruptors may be entering the Potomac River watershed through synthetic estrogen, such as those in birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy, or from those hormones associated with livestock operations.

Source: http://www.fws.gov/chesapeakebay/Newsletter/Fall05/Intersex%20Fish/Fishy.htm

DEFINITIONS

Emerging contaminants are a general category

of which endocrine disruptors are a kind of contaminant

and intersex is a type of endocrine disruption

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