Phenolic endocrine-disrupting chemicals and intersex in wild crucian carp from Hun River, China

This study investigated the concentrations of phenolic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and the incidence of ovo-testis (intersex) in wild crucian carp (Carassius carassius) sampled from the Hun River. As expected, nonylphenols (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) were detected in all samples, and octylphenols (OP) were found in most samples. NP concentrations ranged from 1290 ± 584 to 3111 ± 2071 ng g−1 wet weight (ww) in July and from 1132 ± 644 to 1556 ± 587 ng g−1 ww in November; OP ranged from 6 ± 7 to 46 ± 38 ng g−1 ww in July and from no detection to 22 ± 16 ng g−1 ww in November; and BPA ranged from 4 ± 9 to 41 ± 24 ng g−1 ww in July and from 6 ± 5 to 59 ± 24 ng g−1 ww in November. Moreover, the concentrations of these compounds were higher in fish found down-stream of the sewage treatment plant (STP), and the lowest concentrations were found in fish up-stream of the STP. Concentrations of these EDCs in muscles might be correlated with the prevalence of intersex traits in wild fish, suggesting that these compounds contribute, at least in part, to the occurrence of intersex morphology. Thus, phenolic EDCs discharged from the STP pose a risk to the aquatic ecosystem in the Hun River.