Recent Progress in Understanding the Causes of Endocrine Disruption Related to Pulp and Paper Mill Effluents

2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. van den Heuvel
Keyword(s):  
Pulp Mill ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Pulp And Paper ◽  
The Body ◽  
Pulp Mill Effluent ◽  
Pulp And Paper Mill ◽  
Paper Mill Effluents ◽  
Pulp And Paper Effluent ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Effluent Exposure

Abstract Reproductive impairment in fishes exposed to pulp and paper effluent has been observed in the wild for three decades. Despite intense research, identification of causative agents, if indeed the changes are strictly chemically mediated, has yet to be achieved. This review examines the body of research developed over the last six years that was directed at understanding the mechanisms of reproductive dysfunction in fishes associated with pulp mill effluent exposures. Research has continued to show diminishing effects of effluent exposure on fish reproductive physiology. Observations of exposure to androgens and estrogens continue to be observed and new evidence suggests that antiestrogens may be present. The presence of androgenic steroids remains a consistent observation, and those androgens appear to be native to wood. Recent studies have also suggested a number of alternate mechanisms beyond androgens or estrogens. One such possibility is that neuroactive substances are interfering with endocrine balance critical to reproduction. A second possibility is that some reproductive effects in the field may be due to nutritional factors, and thus reproductive impacts are caused by indirect effects of pulp mill effluent exposure. Ongoing mechanistic studies, particularly with paired field-lab components, are required to make further progress.

Immunomodulation in Blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis) Exposed to a Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent in Eastern Canada

2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 647-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvie D. St-Jean ◽  
Simon C. Courtenay ◽  
Roy W. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Mytilus Edulis ◽  
Pulp Mill ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Pulp And Paper ◽  
Pulp Mill Effluent ◽  
Bacterial Clearance ◽  
Pulp And Paper Mill ◽  
Paper Mill Effluent ◽  
Blue Mussels

Abstract Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) were caged at three sites situated at increasing distance from the point of discharge of a pulp and paper mill effluent from July to October 1998. Two additional cages were deployed: one inside and one at the mouth of the adjacent industrialized Pictou Harbour. After 90 d exposure, we measured growth, survival, haemocyte counts (HC), phagocytic activity (PA), lysosome retention (LR) and bacterial clearance (BC). There was a small but significant difference in growth between cages. Mussels closest to the mill effluent grew the most while those at the mouth of the harbour grew the least. Mussels from three cages showed similar difficulty in clearing bacteria; the cage inside the harbour, the cage nearest to the pulp mill effluent and the cage furthest from the pulp mill, receiving a mixture of both pulp mill and harbour effluents. The mussels from those cages also showed the highest heavy metal burdens and conversely, the cage showing the most rapid clearance, outside both effluents, also showed the lowest heavy metal burden. Mussels caged in the pulp mill effluent showed lower PA and LR and higher mortality during the bacterial clearance test than other mussels. These results suggest that immunological biomarkers might be a useful and more sensitive adjunct to endpoints presently being measured from caged bivalves in environmental effects monitoring (EEM) programs, and assessments of aquatic environmental quality.

Biochemistry and Ecology of Resin Acid Biodegradation in Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent Treatment Systems

1999 ◽  
Vol 40 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
William W. Mohn ◽  
Vincent J. J. Martin ◽  
Zhongtang Yu
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Resin Acid ◽  
Pulp Mill ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Pulp And Paper ◽  
Resin Acids ◽  
Effluent Treatment ◽  
Biochemical Pathway ◽  
Pulp And Paper Mill ◽  
Paper Mill Effluents

A better understanding of the mechanisms and ecology of resin acid biodegradation will contribute to improved performance of existing treatment systems and development of new treatment systems for pulp and paper mill effluents. Using molecular genetic methods, we have partially elucidated the biochemical pathway for degradation of abietane resin acids by Pseudomonas abietaniphila BKME-9. We identified genes encoding putative membrane-associated proteins that are required for abietane metabolism. These proteins may function in cellular uptake of, or response to, resin acids. Genetic and physiological evidence suggests that a monooxygenase is involved in the biochemical pathway. A quantitative PCR assay was developed for ditA1, a gene from BKME-9 encoding resin acid degradation. In an aerated lagoon treating pulp mill effluent, a population carrying ditA1 was found, which was a small fraction (10−7) of the total microbial community. This population was evenly distributed throughout the system and was a stable member of the community over time. Quantitative PCR assays were used to monitor Pseudomonas abietaniphila BKME-9 and Zoogloea resiniphila DhA-35 when they were separately used to inoculate a complex microbial communities in laboratory sequencing batch reactors. Both inocula were stably maintained in the community for 24 days. These inocula stimulated resin acid removal by the community when it was stressed by high pH or by high resin acid loading.

Practical experiences with aerobic biofilters in TMP (thermomechanical pulping), sulfite and fine paper mills in Canada

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 227-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kantardjieff ◽  
J. P. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Pulp Mill ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Pulp And Paper ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Pulp And Paper Mill ◽  
Paper Mills ◽  
Paper Mill Effluents ◽  
Sulfite Pulp ◽  
Practical Experiences

An industrial aerobic biofilter technology has been piloted extensively in Canada on several types of pulp and paper mill effluents, resulting in one full scale operational facility at one Canadian fine paper mill. In addition two industrial scale pilot plant tests were performed with the same technology, one in an integrated sulfite pulp and paper mill and one in a TMP mill. In the case of the fine paper mill, the full scale plant has two cells (8 m × 8 m × 6 m height of the media) and treats an unclarified but screened effluent with a loading of 3500 kg BOD/d. The system produces low quantities of biosludge (0.28 kg TSS/kg BOD removed), has a rapid rate of recovery after shock loadings and is very energy efficient (150 kW installed power for aeration). Pilot plant treatability studies were performed at one integrated Canadian sulfite mill using a combination of a biofilter-aerated lagoon system. The biofilter treated the most concentrated stream (sulfite pulp mill effluent) and this stream was then combined with the remaining wastewaters of the mill and polished in an aerated stabilization basin (ASB). The high quality ASB effluent (50 mg BOD/L/30 mg TSS/L) was non toxic to rainbow trout, Daphnia magna and photoluminescent bacteria. Integrated TMP mill effluents were treated in a 5 m3 aerobic biofilter filled with two types of media (10 to 20 mm and 20 to 30 mm). Under average loading conditions of 3.5 kg BOD/d.m3 media, the system produced effluents meeting regulation limits for BOD, TSS as well as for toxicity.

A Shortened Adult Fathead Minnow Reproduction Test Developed for Investigation of Cause and Investigation of Solution Work Involving Pulp and Paper Mill Effluents

2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tibor Kovacs ◽  
Pierre Martel ◽  
Maria Ricci
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Fathead Minnow ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Pulp And Paper ◽  
Fish Reproduction ◽  
Pulp And Paper Mill ◽  
Paper Mill Effluents ◽  
Reproduction Test ◽  
Effluent Exposure

Abstract The regulatory Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) program in Canada has found that pulp and paper mill effluents reduce the gonad size of wild fish. In such cases, there is a need for Investigation of Cause (IOC) and Investigation of Solution (IOS) studies to find the cause(s) for these responses as well as cost-effective mitigation strategies. IOC and IOS work requires the availability of practical (in terms of time and effluent volume needs) and biologically meaningful tests for assessing fish reproduction in the laboratory. One available fish reproduction test uses adult fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) and involves a two- to three-week pre-exposure period and a three-week exposure to a test substance. Work was undertaken to determine if both the pre-exposure and effluent-exposure phases could be reduced, leading to a shorter test with a lower effluent volume requirement. For this purpose, effluent samples were taken from two thermomechanical (newsprint) pulp mills and used in tests with ≤7 days of pre-exposure and 5 to 6 days of effluent exposure. Egg production was monitored in each test, and in tests with effluents from one mill, other endpoints - such as gonad somatic indices and whole-body sex steroid levels, as well as vitellogenin activity in males - were measured. The shortened fish reproduction test in this study provided results similar to tests of longer duration, specifically in terms of egg production, and was able to distinguish between pulp and paper mill effluents of different potencies. The test was also found to be directly applicable for toxicity identification evaluation work as it was clearly able to distinguish between the solids and soluble fractions of a biotreated newsprint mill effluent. As such, the test is a promising tool for EEM-related IOC and IOS work.

The Benefits of Biotreatment for Reducing the Effects of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluents on Fish Reproduction in Laboratory Tests

2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 161-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Martel ◽  
Tibor Kovacs ◽  
Virginie Bérubé
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Pulp And Paper ◽  
Reproductive Capacity ◽  
Fish Reproduction ◽  
Pulp And Paper Mill ◽  
Paper Mill Effluents ◽  
Gonad Size

Abstract Pulp and paper mill effluents have been reported to cause changes in reproductive indicators of fish in laboratory and field studies. These changes include reduced egg production and gonad size, and altered hormone levels and expression of secondary sex characteristics. We examined the performance of biotreatment plants for their potential in abating effects of pulp and paper mill effluents on fish reproduction under laboratory conditions. A bleached kraft mill effluent (BKME) treated in an aerated lagoon and a thermomechanical pulp mill effluent (TMPE) treated by aerobic sludge in a sequential batch reactor were selected for study. Mature fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were exposed to effluents before and after biotreatment under continuous renewal conditions for 21 days. Egg production was monitored daily, while morphometric parameters (length, weight, gonad size), secondary sexual characteristics, and steroid hormone and vitellogenin levels were measured at the end of the effluent exposure. The effluent from both mills before biotreatment impaired the reproductive capacity of minnows (egg production) at concentrations of 10 and 20% vol/vol, but not at 2% vol/vol. Exposure to biotreated effluents from both mills at concentrations of 2, 10, 20, and 40% vol/vol caused no significant differences in overall reproductive capacity of minnows as compared with controls. These results indicate that biotreatment can significantly improve the quality of a BKME and an effluent from a TMP mill with respect to the reproductive capacity of fish as determined in laboratory tests.

Public Evaluation of Fish Tainting from Pulp and Paper Mill Discharges

1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-64
Author(s):  
C. G. Jardine
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Pulp Mill ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Pulp And Paper ◽  
Salmo Gairdneri ◽  
Pulp And Paper Mill ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Public Advisory ◽  
St Lawrence River

As part of the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) programs for the St. Lawrence and Spanish Rivers in Ontario, Canada, tainting evaluations were conducted using members of the Public Advisory Committees (PACs) and the RAP teams. Triangle test sensory evaluations were conducted on caged rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) exposed insitu upstream and downstream of the pulp and paper mill diffuser outfalls In the St. Lawrence River only, evaluations were conducted on indigenous yellow perch (Perca flavescens) caught upstream and downstream of the mill discharge . In both locations, the odour of the flesh from the caged trout exposed above the diffuser outfall was not judged significantly different from caged trout exposed downstream of the discharge. However, the indigenous perch caught downstream of the mill in the St. Lawrence River were judged by the panelists to have a significantly more objectionable odour than those caught upstream of the discharge. While the effluent tainting potential appears to have been eliminated in the Spanish River, further studies are required to determine the source and magnitude of tainting concerns in the St. Lawrence River. The sensory test and results reported here provide useful tools for evaluating the tainting potential of pulp mill discharges and for assessing perceived consumer quality of the fish exposed to these effluents.

Mutagenicity in Pulp and Paper Mill Effluents and in Recipient

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Langi ◽  
M. Priha
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Mutagenic Activity ◽  
Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells ◽  
Chinese Hamster ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Pulp And Paper ◽  
Pulp And Paper Mill ◽  
Sludge Treatment ◽  
Paper Mill Effluents ◽  
Kraft Mill

The mutagenic properties of pulp and paper mill effluents were studied in three mills: bleached kraft mill with aerated lagoon treatment (Mill 1), bleached kraft mill with activated sludge treatment (Mill 2) and mechanical pulp/paper mill (Mill 3). Both treated and untreated effluents, process streams and molecular fractions were tested for mutagenicity (Ames test. Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and SCE sister chromatid exchange test, Chinese hamster ovary cells). To verify the potential environmental effects the mutagenic activity of concentrated recipient lake water (Mill 2) was also studied. The Ames mutagenicity of the bleached kraft mill effluent (BKME) originated from the first chlorination filtrate, SCE mutagenicity also occurred in the alkali extraction stage filtrate (Mill 1). No Ames mutagenicity was detected in the paper mill effluent, but it was SCE mutagenic. Activated sludge treatment of BKME removed both Ames and SCE mutagenicity, but the aerated lagoon treated BKME was still SCE mutagenic. No mutagenic activity was detected in the recipient water concentrates.

Effects of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluents on Reproduction, Bile Conjugates and Liver MFO (Mixed Function Oxygenase) Activity in Fish at Southern Lake Saimaa, Finland

1999 ◽  
Vol 40 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aarno Karels ◽  
Markus Soimasuo ◽  
Aimo Oikari
Keyword(s):  
Endocrine Disrupting Compounds ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Erod Activity ◽  
Pulp And Paper ◽  
Coregonus Lavaretus ◽  
Pulp And Paper Mill ◽  
Paper Mill Effluents ◽  
Mixed Function Oxygenase ◽  
Estradiol 17Β ◽  
Lake Saimaa

Reproductive indices like gonad size, fecundity, egg size and sex steroid levels of estradiol-17β and testosterone, vitellogenin in the blood as well as bile conjugates and liver 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity were studied in populations of perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) and roach (Rutilus rutilus L.) and experimentally exposed juvenile whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus L. s.l.) at the Southern Lake Saimaa (S.E. Finland). Our studies showed that the introduction of elemental chlorine free (ECF) bleaching and secondary treatment of effluents in a modern activated sludge plant at the mill in 1992 have substantially reduced the exposure of feral and caged fish to organochlorines. The liver EROD activity was noticeably lower in feral and caged fish near the mill indicating lesser impacts on the liver mixed function oxygenase (MFO) system. However, at the mill site, liver EROD activies in feral and caged fish still tend to be one to four times higher than at the reference sites. Significantly decreased plasma estradiol-17β and testosterone concentrations in perch and roach in the period of development of the gonads (autumn and winter) indicate that there were endocrine disrupting compounds present in the lake receiving ECF pulp and paper mill effluents. Cause-effect relationships, however, are difficult to establish.

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