The use of Poecilliids to assess the endocrine disrupting capacity of waters with reference to the mosquitofish inhabiting water bodies in the Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay.

Abstract

A number of chemical pollutants have the ability to disrupt endocrine function and cause developmental reproductive abnormalities in humans and animals. They are commonly referred to as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). Fish species have been used to assess waterways for their endocrine disrupting capacity. The use of Poecilliid species, the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) and the mosquitofish Gambusia affinis and Gambusia holbrooki as bioindicator species for EDCs is examined with reference to the mosquitofish inhabiting water bodies in the Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay. Sydney Olympic Park (SOP), located at Homebush Bay has an extensive history of contamination due to the dumping of 9 million cubic metres of domestic, industrial and commercial waste. The site, now remediated, features sporting, residential and commercial development, as well as extensive parklands and it is therefore important that potential hazard issues at the site are monitored. Monitoring of the containment mound leachate has identified a number of potential EDCs, including dioxins, phenolics and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (pAHs). The male and female mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrookq were used to assess the endocrine disrupting capacity of water bodies within Sydney Olympic Park. It was found that the use of sexual behaviour and reproductive morphology of the mosquitofish was useful in assessing the study sites for the presence ofEDCs. As a result there is initial evidence to suggest that two of the sites within Sydney Olympic Park may contain EDCs that elicit an estrogenic or anti-androgenic response in the male fish.