(EGB) Natural Estrogens in Spring Water in the Ozark Plateau Region

在密苏里州和阿肯色州的喀斯特奥扎克高原地区，无数的泉水被用作鱼类孵化场的水源。此外，泉水形成的溪流是许多非猎用鱼类的良好栖息地；此外，还发现了两种濒临灭绝的洞穴鱼生活在岩溶含水层中。从牲畜和污水中排放的天然雌激素化合物（17-B雌二醇（E2）和雌酮（E1））浓度相对较低时，会导致鱼类雌性化，浓度稍高时，会导致重要器官衰竭和死亡。因此，含有E2)和E1)的废物污染地下水和泉水可能对猎用鱼、非猎用鱼和洞穴鱼的健康产生不利影响。我们的第一个目标是通过建立采样和储存方案，利用ELISA技术测量E2和E1在泉水中的浓度，确定欧扎克高原泉水中E2和E1污染的地理分布和程度。在斯普林菲尔德高原的四个泉水中进行的初步采样发现E2浓度在10至65纳克/升之间。这些浓度在对生物群有有害影响的范围内（50ng/L）。我们还没有发现没有E2污染的弹簧。这些数据将提交给州级机构。此外，通过确定污染的分布和程度，我们将能够将后续研究重点放在六个泉上（三个显示E2和E1浓度最低的泉和三个显示E2和E1浓度最高的泉）。一旦选定了泉水，我们将通过使用标准地表水测量技术和阶段记录仪测量流量，确定从岩溶含水层排放的E2和E1的质量通量。由于E2和E1的浓度可以可靠地测定至20 ng/L，因此可以测定出盆地E2和E1的质量通量。这些流域由大量流失的河流补给，这些河流提供了90%的流量。对于每一个流域，流失的水流将被定位和测量。通过仔细的流测量，仔细的分析工作，并确保所有丢失的流（如果这些是多个丢失的流）都被测量，可以将质量通量计算的错误降到最低。由于洞穴鱼生活在含水层中，采样测量从含水层排放，由于含水层的降解，洞穴鱼可能暴露于更高的浓度。我们的第三个目标是确定在典型的泉水条件下（化学和物理）E2和E1是否被降解，并确定洞穴鱼所经历的浓度和剂量。

9975380WicksIn the karstic Ozark Plateau region of Missouri and Arkansas, numerous springs are used as the water supply for fish hatcheries. In addition, streams fed by spring water are good habitat for many non-game fish species; also, two species of endangered cavefish have been found to live within the karstic aquifers. At relatively low concentrations, the naturally occurring estrogen compounds (17-B estradiol (E2 ) and estrone (E1 ), which are discharged from livestock and sewage wastes, lead to feminization of fish, and at somewhat higher concentrations to failure of vital organs and death. Thus, contamination of the groundwater and spring waters by wastes that contain E2 ) and E1 ) could adversely impact the health of game fish, non-game fish, and cavefish.Our first goal is to determine the geographic distribution and the extent to which the spring waters of the Ozark Plateau are contaminated with E2 and E1 by establishing a sampling and storage protocol for measuring their concentration in spring waters using ELISA technique. Preliminary sampling at four springs within the Springfield Plateau have found E2 concentrations ranging from 10 to 65 ng/L. These concentrations are within the range having a deleterious effects on biota (50ng/L). We have not yet found a spring that does not have E2 contamination.This data will be presented to State level agencies. Also, by determining the distribution and extent of the contamination, we will be able to focus subsequent research on six springs (the three that exhibit the lowest concentrations of E2 and E1 and the three that exhibit the highest concentrations of E2 and E1).Once the springs are selected, we will determine the mass flux of E2 and E1 discharged from the karstic aquifer by measuring discharge by using standard surface water gauging techniques and stage recorders. Since the concentrations of E2 and E1 can be reliably determined down to 20 ng/L, the mass flux of E2 and E1 out of the basins can be determined. These basins are fed by large losing streams that supply 90% of the discharge. For each basin, the losing stream will be located and gauged. Errors on mass flux calculations can be minimized by careful stream gauging, careful analytical work, and by making sure all losing streams (if these are multiple losing streams) are gauged.Because the cavefish live in the aquifer and the sampling measures discharge from the aquifer, the cavefish might be exposed to higher concentrations due to degradation in the aquifer. Our third goal is to determine whether E2 and E1 are degraded at typical spring water conditions (chemical and physical) and to determine the concentration and dosages experienced by the cavefish.