Research Article

Feminization of Longnose Dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) in the Oldman River, Alberta, (Canada) Provides Evidence of Widespread Endocrine Disruption in an Agricultural Basin

Table 1

Concentrations are ng/12 L of 28 target compounds measured by ultratrace analytical gas chromatography-high-resolution mass-spectrometry in river water from 7 sites on the Oldman River, Alberta, Canada during September, 2009. Many of these compounds are hormonally active or are suspected to be hormonally active. The contaminants are grouped according to their functionality (headings in italics) to facilitate identification of potential sources and are used in subsequent interpretations.

Target compoundOlin bridgeHighway 2Highway 3APopsonPavan# 845TaberDescription or use

Natural h ormones
 Estrone NDND0.150.150.720.74Endogenous estrogen
 17a-EstradiolNDNDNDNDNDNDNDEndogenous estrogen
 17b-EstradiolNDND0.540.20ND0.35NDEndogenous estrogen
 EstriolNDNDNDNDNDNDNDEndogenous estrogen
 Testosterone1.03NDNDNDND0.42NDEndogenous androgen
Synthetic e strogens
 EquilinNDNDNDNDNDNDNDHormone replacement therapy
 d-EquileninNDND0.20NDNDNDNDHormone replacement therapy
 MestranolNDNDNDNDNDNDNDSynthetic ovulation inhibitor
 19-NorethindroneND0.42NDND0.49ND0.42Synthetic ovulation inhibitor
 17a-EthynylestradiolNDNDNDNDNDNDNDSynthetic ovulation inhibitor
  (−)-NorgestrelNDNDNDNDNDNDNDSynthetic ovulation inhibitor
Veterinary pharmaceuticals
 a-ZearalanolNDNDNDNDNDND6.16Growth promoter
 b-Estradiol-3-benzoateNDNDNDNDNDNDNDGrowth promoter
Industrial compounds
 Bisphenol A10.75ND2.252.0813.6712.3311.67Plastics catalyst
Cholesterol and derivatives
 Cholesterol191.17162.22314.92339.33444.50551.67387.83Animal/plant sterol
 Desmosterol121.67198.25ND399.75ND50.5766.03Cholesterol derivative
 Cholestanol31.1751.08119.83121.92229.3329.77222.92Cholesterol derivative
 6-KetocholestanolNDNDNDNDNDND0.70Cholesterol oxidation product
 7-Ketocholestanol4.86NDNDNDND12.9913.44Cholesterol oxidation product
Coprostan-3-one6.53NDNDNDND106.95141.88Fecal neutral sterol
Ergosterol17.18NDNDNDND33.9728.58Sterol produced by fungi
Phytosterols
 b-Sitosterol145.50111.50154.5186.25257.33296.00233.25Phytosterol
 Campesterol14.0818.1723.1725.2533.0040.6730.41Phytosterol
 Stigmastanol41.4220.33157.2562.17124.25170.20119.58Phytosterol
 Stigmasterol46.7588.92101.6799.50119.67148.5813.21Phytosterol
 Fucosterol134.33106.67141.92163.48190.92228.25185.25Seaweed Sterol
 TotarolNDNDNDNDNDNDNDAntibacterial diterpenoid
 PinosylvinNDNDNDNDNDNDNDStilbene found in Pinus sp.

: not detected.