Many contaminants of emerging concern have been identified in the Great Lakes and other freshwater systems worldwide yet the impacts of these chemicals are largely unknown. Through several studies we have evaluated some of the more commonly found CECs from the Milwaukee estuary and into Lake Michigan using fish embryo assays and whole life cycle assays. Fish have been exposed singly and in combination to determine how location specific mixtures are related to impacts on molecular events linked to metabolism and reproduction such as estrogen receptor alpha, brain aromatase, and gonadotropin releasing hormone 3. Although several of these chemicals when evaluated singly had a significant increase in mRNA expression associated with estrogen activity, few show significant impacts at concentrations measured in Lake Michigan for acute embryo assays. Mixture exposures that mimic concentrations measured in Lake Michigan caused increase in mRNA expression associated with estrogen exposure at two locations closest to the wastewater treatment outfalls. Acute molecular responses appear to correlate with long-term impacts in fish. Molecular biomarker measures the provide some indication of adverse outcome pathways combined with environmental chemical measurements may help to identify locations of concern or specific chemicals that require further study or removal.

Evaluating the impacts of metformin and mixtures of other dominant contaminants of emerging concern in Milwaukee Estuary and Lake Michigan

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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