Revealing ecological risks of priority endocrine disrupting chemicals in four marine protected areas in Hong Kong through an integrative approach. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Elvis Genbo; Ho, Philip Wing-Lok; Tse, Zero; Ho, Shu-Leong; Leung, Kenneth Mei Yee
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 215(2016)
• Page Start: 103
• Page End: 112
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Endocrine disrupting chemicals -- Yeast estrogen screen -- COMT assay -- Marine protected areas -- Ecological risk assessment; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.090
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Hong Kong are situated in close proximity to urbanized areas, and inevitably influenced by wastewater discharges and antifouling biocides leached from vessels. Hence, marine organisms inhabiting these MPAs are probably at risk. Here an integrative approach was employed to comprehensively assess ecological risks of eight priority endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in four MPAs of Hong Kong. We quantified their concentrations in environmental and biota samples collected in different seasons during 2013–2014, while mussels ( Septifer virgatus ) and semi-permeable membrane devices were deployed to determine the extent of accumulation of the EDCs. Extracts from the environmental samples were subjected to the yeast estrogen screen and a novel human cell-based catechol- O -methyltransferase ELISA to evaluate their estrogenic activities. The results indicated ecological risks of EDCs in the Cape d'Aguilar Marine Reserve. This integrated approach can effectively evaluate ecological risks of EDCs through linking their concentrations to biological effects. Graphical abstract: Highlights: We assessed ecological risks of EDCs in 4 marine protected areas of Hong Kong. 8 priority EDCs were present in water, sediment, transplanted mussels and SPMDs. Environmental samples showed elevated estrogenic activities by YES and COMT assays. Risk of the EDCs to marine organisms at the Cape d'Aguilar Marine Reserve is high. Abstract : Marine protected areas situated nearby urbanized areas can be under considerable threats of endocrine disrupting chemicals, as revealed by an integrative monitoring approach.