Meeting Abstract
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are environmental chemicals that interfere with the normal function of the endocrine system. They are known to cause negative effects in hormone responsive target organs, tissues, and cells. Humans are exposed to EDC’s in their everyday environment, especially through food packaging, food preservatives, and personal care products. Two EDC’s that are commonly found are Bisphenol-A (BPA) and Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). BPA leaches into the food from the protective inner coating of canned foods and other food storage devices. BHA is found in food packaging as well as consumer and industrial animal feed to prevent rancidity. Both BPA and BHA are considered to be estrogenic mimicking chemicals. Previous studies have found that high amounts of external estrogen and estrogen like chemicals in a variety of organisms have resulted in morphological abnormalities and have been linked to early puberty, decreased sperm counts, sexual dysfunction, and higher relative frequencies of reproductive cancers (Jobling et al, 1995). Additionally, exposure to these EDCs may result in feministic behaviors in some species (Molina et al, 2011). Currently most EDCs have been tested on model organisms individually, however there is growing concern that humans and other organisms are exposed to a milieu of chemicals simultaneously. Our study examines the influence of BPA and BHA, both singularly and synergistically on the morphological and behavioral characteristics of the mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki). Using this ecologically relevant model, we begin to elucidate the physiological effects of living in a complex chemical exposome.
