Elevated gonadal atresia as biomarker of endocrine disruptors: Field and experimental studies using Mytilus trossulus (L.) and 17-alpha ethinylestradiol (EE2)

In order to confirm biomarker applicability of RC, an exposure experiment with model xenoestrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) was performed. The exposure of M. trossulus to 50 and 500 ng dL− 1 of EE2 resulted in an increased frequency of gonadal regression and atresia, including melanized hemocytes infiltration in seminiferous tubules. We thus suggest that these changes can serve as biomarkers of endocrine disrupting compounds in biomonitoring studies.