| Evidence of Detrimental Effects of Environmental Contaminants on Growth and Reproductive Physiology of White Sturgeon in Impounded Areas of the Columbia River Grant W. Feist,1 Molly A.H. Webb,1 Deke T. Gundersen,2 Eugene P. Foster,3 Carl B. Schreck,1,4,5 Alec G. Maule,6 and Martin S. Fitzpatrick3 1Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; 2Environmental Science Program, Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon, USA; 3Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland, Oregon, USA; 4Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; 5Biological Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Corvallis, Oregon, USA;6Biological Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia River Research Laboratory, Cook, Washington, USA Abstract
This study sought to determine whether wild white sturgeon from the Columbia River (Oregon) were exhibiting signs of reproductive endocrine disruption. Fish were sampled in the free-flowing portion of the river (where the population is experiencing reproductive success) and from three reservoirs behind hydroelectric dams (where fish have reduced reproductive success) . All of the 18 pesticides and almost all of the 28 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that were analyzed in livers and gonads were detected in at least some of the tissue samples. Metabolites of p,p´-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) [p,p´-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and p,p´-1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDD) ]were consistently found at relatively high levels in fish. Some males and immature females showed elevated plasma vitellogenin ; however, concentrations were not correlated with any of the pesticides or PCBs analyzed. Negative correlations were found between a number of physiologic parameters and tissue burdens of toxicants. Plasma triglycerides and condition factor were negatively correlated with total DDT (DDD + DDE + DDT) , total pesticides (all pesticides detected - total DDT) , and PCBs. In males, plasma androgens and gonad size were negatively correlated with total DDT, total pesticides, and PCBs. Fish residing in the reservoir behind the oldest dam had the highest contaminant loads and incidence of gonadal abnormalities, and the lowest triglycerides, condition factor, gonad size, and plasma androgens. These data suggest that endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be accumulating behind dams over time. Overall, results of this study indicate that exposure to environmental contaminants may be affecting both growth and reproductive physiology of sturgeon in some areas of the Columbia River. Key words: endocrine-disrupting chemicals, growth, PCBs, pesticides, reproductive physiology, sex steroids, white sturgeon. Environ Health Perspect 113:1675-1682 (2005) . doi:10.1289/ehp.8072 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 11 July 2005]
Address correspondence to G.W. Feist, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, 104 Nash Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-3803 USA. Telephone: (541) 737-2463. Fax: (541) 737-3590. E-mail: feistg@onid.orst.edu We thank C. Anthony, D. Buhler, R. Chitwood, B. Siddens, and A. Schwindt, Oregon State University ; T. Rien, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife ; J. Linares-Casenavae, S. Doroshov, and J. Van Eenennaam, University California-Davis ; and W. Gale, U.S. Geological Survey Columbia River Research Laboratory. This research was funded by the U.S. Geological Survey (99HQAG0152) . The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. Received 2 March 2005 ; accepted 11 July 2005. Correction: The AGD data for control females were incorrect in Table 3 of the original manuscript published online, but they have been corrected here. An erratum was published in Environ Health Perspect 114:A90 (2006) .
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