Abstract:
The problem to be addressed in this study is the growing presence of man-made compounds that mimic the female sex hormone, estrogen, in the aquatic environment. These "ecoestrogens" as they are often referred to, include a variety of widely used compounds such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, agricultural supplements, and chemicals utilized in the production of plastics, detergents, and other household items. As "endocrine disruptors", ecoestrogens are capable of altering the normal functions of natural hormones responsible for regulating animal development, reproduction, immune function, and other critical physiological processes. The goal of this study was to determine the estrogenic compounds present in the Caloosahatchee River in Florida, and determine if these contaminants are affecting the health of local wildlife. This was accomplished by conducting analytical measurements of common ecoestrogens in the river surface water, and by examining the presence of biological effects indicative of ecoestrogen exposure in the hogchoker (Trinectes maculatus), a common and abundant species residing in this river system.
