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

9975380威克斯在密苏里州和阿肯色州的奥扎克高原岩溶地区，许多泉水被用作鱼类孵化场的水源。 此外，由泉水喂养的溪流是许多非游戏鱼类的良好栖息地;此外，已发现两种濒临灭绝的洞穴鱼生活在岩溶含水层中。 从牲畜和污水中排出的天然雌激素化合物（17-B雌二醇（E2）和雌酮（E1））在相对低的浓度下导致鱼类雌性化，在稍高的浓度下导致重要器官衰竭和死亡。 因此，含有E2）和E1）的废物对地下水和泉水沃茨的污染可能对狩猎鱼类、非狩猎鱼类我们的第一个目标是通过建立一个采样和储存协议来测量春季沃茨中E2和E1的浓度，以确定Ozark高原泉水沃茨的地理分布和E2和E1污染的程度ELISA技术。 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产生有害影响的范围内（50纳克/升）。 我们还没有发现没有E2污染的泉水。这些数据将提交给州一级的机构。 此外，通过确定污染的分布和程度，我们将能够将随后的研究集中在六个泉水上（表现出E2和E1的最低浓度的三个和表现出E2和E1的最高浓度的三个）。一旦选择了弹簧，我们将通过使用标准地表水测量技术和水位记录仪测量流量来确定岩溶含水层排出的E2和E1的质量通量。由于E2和 E1可以可靠地确定到20 ng/L，可以确定E2和E1流出盆地的质量通量。 这些盆地由大量流失的河流提供，这些河流提供了90%的流量。 对于每个流域，将定位和测量损失的河流。 通过仔细的溪流测量、仔细的分析工作以及确保测量所有流失的溪流（如果这些是多个流失的溪流），可以最大限度地减少质量通量计算的误差。由于洞穴鱼生活在含水层中，并且采样措施从含水层排出，洞穴鱼可能会暴露在更高的浓度中，因为含水层的退化。 第三个目标是确定E2和E1 在典型的泉水条件（化学和物理）降解，并确定浓度和剂量所经历的洞穴鱼。

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.