Use of watershed factors to predict consumer surfactant risk, water quality, and habitat quality in the upper Trinity River, Texas

Surfactants are high production volume chemicals that are used in a wide assortment of "down-the-drain" consumer products. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) generally remove 85 to more than 99% of all surfactants from influents, but residual concentrations are discharged into receiving waters via wastewater treatment plant effluents. The Trinity River that flows through the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, Texas, is an ideal study site for surfactants due to the high ratio of wastewater treatment plant effluent to river flow (>95%) during late summer months, providing an interesting scenario for surfactant loading into the environment. The objective of this project was to determine whether surfactant concentrations, expressed as toxic units, in-stream water quality, and aquatic habitat in the upper Trinity River could be predicted based on easily accessible watershed characteristics. Surface water and pore water samples were collected in late summer 2005 at 11 sites on the Trinity River in and around the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Effluents of 4 major waste water treatment plants that discharge effluents into the Trinity River were also sampled. General chemistries and individual surfactant concentrations were determined, and total surfactant toxic units were calculated. GIS models of geospatial, anthropogenic factors (e.g., population density) and natural factors (e.g., soil organic matter) were collected and analyzed according to subwatersheds. Multiple regression analyses using the stepwise maximum R(2) improvement method were performed to develop prediction models of surfactant risk, water quality, and aquatic habitat (dependent variables) using the geospatial parameters (independent variables) that characterized the upper Trinity River watershed. We show that GIS modeling has the potential to be a reliable and inexpensive method of predicting water and habitat quality in the upper Trinity River watershed and perhaps other highly urbanized watersheds in semi-arid regions.

Hepatic gene expression profiling using GeneChips in zebrafish exposed to 17alpha-methyldihydrotestosterone

Concentration and time-dependent changes in hepatic gene expression were examined in adult, female zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to 0, 0.1, 0.7, 4.9 microg/L of a model androgen, 17alpha-methyldihydrotestosterone (MDHT). At 24 and 168 h, fish were sacrificed and liver was extracted for gene expression analysis using custom Affymetrix GeneChip Zebrafish Genome Microarrays. In an effort to link gene expression changes to higher levels of biological organization, blood was collected for measurement of plasma steroid hormones (17beta-estradiol (E2), testosterone (T)) and vitellogenin (VTG) using ELISA. Body and ovary weight were also measured. A significant reduction in E2 occurred at 24h (0.7 and 4.9 microg/L) and 168 h (4.9 microg/L) following MDHT exposure. In contrast, T was significantly increased at 24h (4.9 microg/L) and 168 h (0.1, 0.7, 4.9 microg/L). 171 and 575 genes were significantly affected in a concentration-dependent manner at either 24 or 168 h by MDHT exposure at p<or=0.001 and p<or=0.01, respectively. Genes involved in retinoic acid metabolism (e.g. aldehyde dehydrogenase 8, member A1; retinol dehydrogenase 12), steroid biosynthesis and metabolism (e.g. hydroxysteroid (11beta) dehydrogenase 2; hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 beta-), hormone transport (e.g. sex hormone binding globulin), and regulation of cell growth and proliferation (e.g. N-myc downstream regulated gene 1; spermidinespermine N(1)-acetyltransferase) were affected by MDHT exposure. In this study, we identified genes involved in a variety of biological processes that have the potential to be used as markers of exposure to androgenic substances. Genes identified in this study provide information on the potential mode of action of strong androgens in female fish. In addition, when used for screening of EDC's, these genes may also serve as sensitive markers of exposure to androgenic compounds.

Hepatic gene expression profiling using Genechips in zebrafish exposed to 17alpha-ethynylestradiol

Genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic technologies continue to receive increasing interest from environmental toxicologists. This interest is due to the great potential of these technologies to identify detailed modes of action and to provide assistance in the evaluation of a contaminant's risk to aquatic organisms. Our experimental model is the zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to reference endocrine disrupting compounds in order to investigate compound-induced changes in gene transcript profiles. Adult, female zebrafish were exposed to 0, 15, 40, and 100ng/L of 17alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2) and concentration and time-dependent changes in hepatic gene expression were examined using Affymetrix GeneChip Zebrafish Genome Microarrays. At 24, 48, and 168h, fish were sacrificed and liver mRNA was extracted for gene expression analysis (24 and 168h only). In an effort to link gene expression changes to effects on higher levels of biological organization, body and ovary weights were measured and blood was collected for measurement of plasma steroid hormones (17beta-estradiol (E2), testosterone (T)) and vitellogenin (VTG) using ELISA. EE2 exposure significantly affected gene expression, GSI, E2, T, and VTG. We observed 1622 genes that were significantly affected (p< or =0.001) in a concentration-dependent manner by EE2 exposure at either 24 or 168h. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that EE2 exposure affected genes involved in hormone metabolism, vitamin A metabolism, steroid binding, sterol metabolism, and cell growth. Plasma VTG was significantly increased at 24, 48, and 168h (p< or =0.05) at 40 and 100ng/L and at 15ng/L at 168h. E2 and T were significantly reduced following EE2 exposure at 48 and 168h. GSI was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner at 168h. In this study, we identified genes involved in a variety of biological processes that have the potential to be used as markers of exposure to estrogenic substances. Future work will evaluate the use of these genes in zebrafish exposed to weak estrogens to determine if these genes are indicative of exposure to estrogens with varying potencies.

Mood, primary heroin withdrawal, and acute methadone administration

This study was designed to: describe the internal state of addicts undergoing primary withdrawal, determine how the internal state is altered by the alleviation of withdrawal stress through an acute dose of methadone, and to determine a predictor of the probability of a patient completing detoxification. Sixty-seven male and female heroin addicts accepted for methadone detoxification were administered a 65-item Profile of Mood States (POMS). Forty-nine of the Ss were tested immediately prior to receiving their initial dose of methadone and again 45 minutes later, while the remaining 18 Ss were only tested 45 minutes after receiving their methadone in order to control for the effects of repeated testing. Each of the subscales measured by the POMS showed a significant decrease in mood disturbance following methadone administration (p less than .0001); these differences could not be attributed to the effects of repeated testing. Factor analysis of pre- and post-methadone treatment scores indicated a two-factor structure prior to receiving methadone and a single unified mood state after the alleviation of primary withdrawal stress. The Anger subscale, administered immediately prior to receiving methadone, was a highly significant predictor of the completion of detoxification (p less than .005). Further implications of the results were discussed.