Preliminary observations of estrogenic activity in surface waters of the Myakka River, Florida.

Abstract

Environmental pollutants capable of disrupting endocrine function and impairing hormonally regulated processes pose significant threats to the health of aquatic wildlife populations. Using the E- SCREEN technique, a pilot attempt to detect the presence of endocrine-disrupting pollutants in surface waters of southwest Florida estuaries was conducted. In the Myakka River estrogenic activity was detected at multiple sites. It is likely that contaminants enter surface waters of the Myakka River through stormwater runoff from residential developed areas along portions of the lower river.