Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA, USA.
Environ Toxicol Chem. 2012 Dec;31(12):2711-22. doi: 10.1002/etc.2007. Epub 2012 Oct 20.
Municipal wastewater discharges constitute a major source of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) to coastal waters, yet uncertainty exists regarding their linkage to adverse biological effects such as endocrine disruption. Limited information is available concerning the types and fate of CECs discharged to the Southern California Bight (SCB) from municipal wastewater and their potential for ecological impacts. The present study investigated the impacts of CECs from ocean wastewater discharges on SCB fish. Concentrations of CECs were measured in effluents from four major municipal wastewater dischargers. Seawater, sediment, and hornyhead turbot (Pleuronichthys verticalis) from the discharge sites and a reference area were collected and analyzed for chemical and biological indicators. Low concentrations of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and industrial and commercial compounds were measured in effluent. Some CECs were also detected in sediment, seawater, and fish livers near the outfalls, confirming exposure to CECs. Fish plasma hormone analyses suggested the presence of physiological effects, including a reduced stress response, altered estrogen synthesis or estrogenic exposure, and reduced thyroxine. Most fish responses were found at all sites and could not be directly associated with effluent discharges. However, concentrations of thyroxine were lower at all discharge sites relative to the reference, and estradiol concentrations were lower at three of the four outfall sites. The physiological responses found were not associated with adverse impacts on fish reproduction or populations. Interpretation of molecular and physiological measurements in field organisms such as those used in the present study is challenging because of a lack of information on baseline conditions and uncertain linkages to apical endpoints such as survival and reproduction.
城市污水排放是沿海海域新兴污染物（CECs）的主要来源之一，但它们与内分泌干扰等不良生物效应的关联仍存在不确定性。有关从城市污水排放到南加州湾（SCB）的 CECs 的类型和归宿及其对生态影响的潜力的信息有限。本研究调查了来自海洋污水排放的 CECs 对 SCB 鱼类的影响。在四个主要的城市污水排放口的污水中测量了 CECs 的浓度。从排放点和参考区域采集了海水、沉积物和硬头鳐（Pleuronichthys verticalis），并对其进行了化学和生物指标分析。在污水中检测到低浓度的药物、个人护理产品以及工业和商业化合物。在排水口附近的沉积物、海水和鱼肝中也检测到了一些 CECs，证实了它们的暴露。鱼类血浆激素分析表明存在生理效应，包括应激反应减弱、雌激素合成或雌激素暴露改变以及甲状腺素减少。在所有地点都发现了大多数鱼类的反应，并且无法直接与污水排放相关联。然而，与参考相比，所有排放口的甲状腺素浓度都较低，而在四个排放口的三个排放口的雌二醇浓度较低。发现的生理反应与鱼类繁殖或种群的不良影响无关。由于缺乏关于基线条件的信息以及与生存和繁殖等顶端终点的不确定联系，因此对现场生物（如本研究中使用的那些）的分子和生理测量的解释具有挑战性。
