The bioaccumulation and biotransformation of synthetic estrogen quinestrol in crucian carp

Abstract

The occurrence and fate of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in aquatic species have attracted close attention during the last decades. In this study, the bioaccumulation and biotransformation of synthetic estrogen quinestrol, one of the typical EDCs, in the plasma and liver of crucian carp, were investigated by a newly developed and validated reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescent detection method. Crucian carp were exposed to quinestrol in concentration of 2, 10, 50, 100μg/L (5.49, 27.43, 137.17, 274.34nmol/L) for 60 days. After 60 days’ exposure, the concentrations of quinestrol found in liver and plasma were in the range of 0.25–0.69mg/kg and 0.19–0.30mg/L respectively, positively correlated with the exposure concentrations ranged 2–100μg/L (5.49–274.34nmol/L). There was a negative correlation between the bio-accumulation ratios and the exposure concentrations of quinestrol. 17α-Ethinylestradiol was also found in liver and plasma, and the concentrations were 0.02–0.19mg/kg and 0.37–0.96mg/L, respectively. The results indicated that quinestrol can be accumulated and transformed to 17α-ethinylestradiol in crucian carp. Moreover, exposure to quinestrol caused oxidative damages to crucian carp and the content of malondialdehyde increased in all treatment concentrations.