Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for our research has been academic researchers, state regulators, and federal regulators. This has been accomplished through presentations at regional and national meetings of the Society of Toxicology and Society of Environmental Toxicologyand Chemistry. We havealso given seminars at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and NOAA seminar series. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training the next group of scientists in Toxicology both at the graduate and undergraduate level is an important outcome of this grant supported research. Dr. Sean Bugel (Ph.D. 2012 Environmental Sciences) and Dr. Josie Bonventre (Ph.D 2012 Toxicology) are currently at the University of Oregon as post-doctoral fellows. Dr. Tiffany Kung (Ph.D. 2014 Toxicology) is working on pesticide toxicity for FMC. Mr. Dan Millemann received his M.S. from Environmental Sciences in 2013 and is currently working on his Ph.D. at Rutgers continuing his studies on oil particle associated toxicity. There have been four undergraduate biochemistry majors that have received research credits or were George H. Cook Scholars that worked on these projects. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?These results were presented annually at both the regional and national meetings of the Society of Toxicology and the Society of Environmental Toxicologists and Chemists. At the state there is an increase awareness of the importance of mixture impacts on sensitive aquatic life-stages, and the need to monitor for both soluble and particulate adsorbed contaminates due to direct communication with staff and invited presentations at NJDEP and NOAA webinar presentations. This has begun discussions and pilot projects as to determine how to minimize these compounds getting into surface waters (point source treatment, increased buffer zones along fields) and the importance of petroleum particulate exposure to filter feeding organisms. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Over the past five years we have examined the impacts of a number of different chemicals on the most sensitive life-stages of the finfish's life cycle (embryonic through juvenile). Our studies have involved both laboratory and field studies examining the effects on reproduction and population sustainability. Aquatic wildlife is disappearing from our aquatic habitats due in part to multiple chemicals entering into the receiving waters from pesticide applications (drift/runoff), direct discharge from point sources (sewage treatment plants, animal operations), spills and upland contaminated runoff. The multiple chemical exposures are impacting developing embryos (death/biochemical alterations) and early life-stages of organisms that cause continual decreases in populations and loss from certain waterways. Loss of prey and sentinel predator species from communities is altering the ecosystem food webs and resulting in the loss of economically and ecosystem important organisms. Our studies examined the effects on these organisms and attempted to identify the mechanism by which each of these chemicals are affecting different stages of finfish. The impacts of compounds examined over the past five years have included broad spectrum pesticides (pyrethroids), endocrine disruptors (bisphenol A - BPA, 17 beta estradiol) and petroleum derived products (BP oil spill, atmospheric particulate deposition). Endocrine and petroleum products are entering our ecosystems from sewage treatment plants, spills and particle associated runoff from anthropogenic (man-made) sources. At the same time there are chemical exposures, there are also parameters that are changing the physical characteristics of the aquatic environment that may also contribute to a decline in fishery stocks. Using the fish embryo larval assay (FEL) we have examined both low oxygen conditions and ocean acidification to see what if any effects these might have on early finfish development. The research that our group has been concentrating on over the past 5 years is to understand how these compounds may result in biochemical induced birth/developmental defects that can compromise survival, cause tissue damage, disrupt normal behavior and disrupt reproduction in finfish populations. Fresh and saltwater fisheries in New Jersey are a multi-million dollar industry and effects due to contamination can reduce the standing stocks having an economic impact on recreational and commercial fisheries. These compounds are utilized around the world and are present in water and biota throughout the United States and the world. The zebrafish model system we have used can be directly applied to fish living in the wild and can also provide information on conserved biochemical pathways that may translate to impacts on organs/systems in early human development. The fish embryo larval assay (FEL) is a standardized protocol, which we use for base testing but have added cellular and molecular markers to enable a better understanding of the mechanism of action. For example, more persistent pyrethroid pesticides have taken the place of a number of pesticides that are no longer registered for use in the United States. It is estimated that 500 metric tons of pyrethroids are used worldwide annually. This class of pesticides works through inhibiting the sodium channel disrupting nerve transmission and the dopamine and serotonin neurons. These toxic effects observed in the zebrafish model system explains why juvenile and adult fish are so sensitive to pyrethroid exposure. Exposure in embryonic states resulted in permanent changes in neurotransmitter levels that were observed as hyperactivity and aggression, which may relate to potential human health impacts. Both in finfish and humans exposure to the developing nervous system in fetuses through juvenile life stages pose a threat to effects that may result in behavioral changes. What have we learned? Exposure during sensitive developmental periods of embryonic development can cause permanent changes that are manifested in adult fish that have not been exposed since the egg stage. The pyrethroid studies showed that exposure to sub-lethal concentrations to embryos and juvenile fish resulted in permanent behavioral changes that could be transferred to the next generation. The compounds that are estrogenic (17 beta estradiol and BPA) were found to change sex ratios and secondary sexual characteristics and proper gonadal development. Long-term exposure to compounds that interfere or act like sex hormones can disrupt the population structure of fish inhabiting these rivers that can result in a failure to be sustainable. The chemical additives to gasoline and representative petroleum derived chemicals target the cardiovascular system and primarily the formation of new blood vessels. Inhibition of vessel formation in the embryo results in tissue necrosis and death. The biochemical pathways for the formation of vessels are highly conserved and will have broad impact on developing embryos in lower and higher vertebrates Exposure of algal filter feeding adult fish (menhaden) to petroleum derived particulates resulted in blockage of small blood vessels and permanent damage to the heart. The effects in the fish were similar to what is observed in humans exposed to inhaled particulates. This has open up a new area of scientific investigation into the physical and chemical associated toxicity from particulates on the cardiovascular system in fish. Effects on the heart and the blood vessels can result in decreased blood flow to critical organs and tissues that could impact swimming ability, which could result in higher predation rates reducing the population. This research has begun an important conversation about the importance of particle associated toxicity from chemicals adsorbed to their surface when carrying out an ecological risk assessment. Changes from Ocean Acidification and chronic anoxic zones results in alterations in the developing fish embryos and juveniles that alter their normal gene expression and growth related parameters. These additional environmental stress factors likely make the fish embryos and juvenile fish more sensitive to toxic chemical exposure.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Bentivegna, C., Cooper, K.R.. Olson, G., Pena, E.A., Millemann, D.R. and Portier, R.J. (2015). Chemical and histological comparisons between Brevortia sp. (menhaden) collected in Fall 2010 from Barataria Bay, LA and Delaware Bay, NJ following the Deep Water Horizon (DWH) oil spill. Marine Pollution Bulletin. V122, part A, Dec 2016 21-34. DOI:10.1016/j.marenvres .2015.08.011.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Millemann, D.R., Portier, R.J. Bentivegna, C.S. and Cooper, K.R. 2015. Particulate accumulation in the vital organs of wild Brevortia patronus from the northern Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill. Ecotoxicology. Nov 2015, V24, Iss9, 1831-1847. DOI :10.1007/s10646-015-1520-
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
McElroy A., Clarke C.C., Duffy T., Cheng;, B. Gondek, J., Fast, M., Cooper, K. and White, L.. 2012. Interactions Between Hypoxia and Sewage-Derived Contaminants on Gene Expression in Fish Embryos. Aquatic Toxicology 108:60-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2011.10.017 (2011).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Kung, T.S., Richardson, JR., Cooper, KR., and White, LA. 2014. Developmental deltamethrin exposure causes persistent changes in dopaminergic gene expression, neurochemistry, and locomotor activity in zebrafish. Toxicological Science. Aug 2015; 146 (2); 235-243. Toxicol. Sci. first published online April 24, 2015 doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfv087
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Bonventre, J.A., Kung, T.S., White, L.A., and Cooper, K.R. (2013) Manipulation of HIF-Vegf pathway rescues methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)-induced vascular lesions, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 273(3):623-34, DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2013.10.008 [Epub 2013 Oct 12]
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences were other scientists evaluating the toxicology of these compounds. This work was presented at several national meetings to researchers in the fields of Toxicology and Environmental Toxicology.The results have also been presented in several seminars at the university to faculty, undergradate and graduate students. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The one student conducting her research on deltramethrin just received her PhD. There have been a number of undergraduates who have participated in the research and used their reserach experience to fill the requirement for graduation at SEBS. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The research has been reported in a number of open forums (regional and national meetings)both for researchers in the field and other interested parties who have an interest in impacts on early development and how it impacts older individuals or later generations. The results were presented at the NJDEP seminars where managers and policy makers come to learn about new research and potential issues that could impact environmental issues. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? A number of these projects are continuing to exame biochemical pathways that carry out cross talk between each system and to see how the feedback systems function. Because of this research we are going to be doing some in-field studies to examine if the impacts observed in the laboratory occur under field conditions.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Under goal 1 we were able to demonstrate that deltramethrin resulted in neurological alteration in the developing embryos that was a permanent change in behavior in the fish. The effects were more prevalent in the males than the females and tracked with altered dopamergic pathways. This allowed us to demonstrate that effects at the cellular level did manifest into permanent effects that could result in behavioral effects both in hyperactivity and swimming ability. In the case of ocean acidification we reported damage to the developing embryos of flounder species at levels that are anticipated to be achieved in 25 yrs. There were also effects on the cranial facial formation that is impacted by the carbon dioxide levels and pH changes resulting in altered carbonic anhydrase activity.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Bugel, S.M., Bonventre, J.A., White, L.A., Tanguay, R.L., Cooper, K.R., 2014. Chronic exposure of killifish to a highly polluted environment desensitizes estrogen-responsive reproductive and biomarker genes. Aquatic Toxicology 152, 222-231.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Chambers, R.C., Candelmo A.C., Habeck, E.A., Poach M.E., Wieczorek D., Cooper, K.R., Greenfield, C.E. and Phelan B.A. 2014. Ocean acidification in the early life-stages of summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus. Biogeosciences,11:1613-1626, doi:10.5194/bg-11-1613-2014.
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience reached was primarily scientists in State and Federal regulation of pesticides, as well as academic researchers interested in pesticide effects. The researchers at the impacted industries interacted with us at both the poster and platform presentations. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Three undergraduates have been working on this project for research credits and two graduate students have also been involved and are using this for their thesis research. The undergraduates have written small review papers and made presentations at weekly lab meetings. The graduate students have presented their data at both regional and national research meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The information has been presented to State and Federal researchers, academics and agrochemical companies who manufacture and distribute these compounds, through both poster and platform presentations at national and regional meetings. The national meetings also post their abstracts to the entire community attending the meetings, as well as online access to all the members. These results have been presented at both the Society of Toxicology (Spring 2013)regional and national meeting and the Society of Environmental Toxicology national meeting (Fall 2013). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will continue to examine biochemical pathways during early development to understand the impact of pesticides and other compounds that can impact aquatic species. There are several new compounds that appear to be very persistant and occur in a number of products that accumulate in fish and can impact humans primarily through drinking water and contaminated fish. We will continue to use the zebrafish and other teleost models to examine critical biochemical and neurological pathways involved in altered behavior.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In the past year we have been able to demonstrate that, in the case of deltramethrin, that exposure to sub-lethal concentrations can result in permanent behavioral effects (increased aggression and swimming) observed in zebrafish adults and the F1 offspring. Also studies have examined biochemical biomarkers that can be used to explain what biochemical pathways are being disrupted. These pathways are highly conserved and have direct application to higher vertebrates, including humans. We have also examined the impacts of several pharmaceuticals that are associated with livestock use and human consumption on the normal cranial facial development (cartilage and bone development) in embryonic fish species. This work has been carried out with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the USGS to see impacts from pharmaceuticals and other compounds present in surface waters. This has also pointed out other compounds that could impact fisheries and result in economic loss.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Butler, J., Parkerton T.F., Letinski, D.J., Bragin, G.E. and Cooper, K.R. 2013. A novel passive dosing system for determining the toxicity of phenanthrene to early life stages of zebrafish. Science of the Total Environment. 464, 952-958.
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Cooper, K.R. 2013. Chapter 10. Fundamental Toxicology Methods and Resources for Assessing Water Related Contamination. Handbook of Sustainable Engineering. Editors J. Kauffman and KM Lee, Springer 137-161.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The outputs reported here are from October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012. Our laboratory studies continue to examine chemical impacts on biological systems at the biochemical to whole organism level as they relate to reproduction, and tissue specific targets. In the early years of this project we examined the impacts of MTBE (a gasoline additive) on blood vessel formation as well as the cross talk between two important biochemical pathways (chemical metabolism pathway and estrogen pathway. Current experimental studies are examining the impacts of pyrethroids on nerve development using the zebrafish as an animal model, crude oil on Menhaden following the Gulf oil Spill, and impacts of ocean acidification on commercially important flatfish species during early development. Each study is being carried out by a graduate student. Our laboratory has continued to conduct studies examining the impacts of pyrethroid pesticides on the nervous system using the zebrafish as an animal model. Multigenerational studies have been carried out examining the potential for exposure to the developing embryo and permanently altering behavior parameters involving hyper-activity and aggressive behavior following exposure to pyrethroid pesticides. In addition, we have examined means by which to differentiate male and female zebrafish prior to secondary sexual traits. The impact of crude oil on a fish species that is a critical prey species in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic seaboard is being examined using histopathology. The ocean acidification studies are examining the winter and summer flounder ability to undergo early development successfully by examining cranial facial cartilage and bone development during metamorphosis (turning into a flat fish). The results from the pyrethroid studies (Society of Toxicology) and the ocean acidification (Ocean Acidification Meeting) have been presented at national scientific meetings. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Sean Bugel and Dr. Josie Bonventre graduated with Ph.D.s and are currently at the University of Oregon as post doctoral fellows. Ms. Tiffany Kung is a Ph.D. student in the Joint Graduaate Program in Toxicology (JGPT) working on the pyrethroid project. Mr. Dan Milleman is a masters student working on the oil spill project, and Ms. Carrie Greefield is working on the ocean acidification project. We are collaborating with Dr. Chris Chambers at NOAA on the ocean acidification project and Dr. Ralph Portier at LSU on the oil spill project along with researchers at Seton Hall University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The studies involving the impact of pyrethroids has introduced the idea that behavioral changes can occur in an embryo that can be manifested in the children and grandchildren coming from those originally exposed. This is important in our evaluation of how chemicals can cause permanent changes on nervous system based behaviors. The oil spill studies show that a filter feeding algae eating species like the menhaden can suffer damage to their gills (respiration) and impacts on their stomach and liver/gallbladder following a spill. The histological changes cause tissue damage that can impact the commercial viability of this species. The loss of such an important prey species can impact higher trophic level species reducing their populations and having a direct economic impact. The ocean acidification work will allow us to predict what impacts continued increase in carbon dioxide and temperature will have on early life stages of these important species. This can be factored into population-based models.
Publications
- Bugel, S.M., White, L.A. and Cooper, K.R. 2012. Inhibition of vitellogenesis gene induction by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin is mediated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2 (AhR2) in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Aquatic Toxicology 126:1-8.
- Bonventre J.A., White L.A., and Cooper K.R. 2012. Craniofacial abnormalities and altered wnt and mmp mRNA expression in zebrafish embryos exposed to gasoline oxygenates ETBA and TAME. Aquatic Toxicology 120-1212: 45-53.
- Kozlosky, J., Bonventre, J. and Cooper, K.R. 2012. Methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE) is anti-angiogenic in both in vitro and in vivo mammalian model systems. Journal of Applied Toxicology. March 2012 DOI 10.1002/jat2737.
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During this reporting period we have been involved in conducting experiments examining the impacts on finfish of living in a contaminated urban environment. These impacts include histological examination of the gills, liver and gonads in relation to the fish's body burden of petroleum derived hydrocarbons, metals and other contaminants. Finfish living in these urban estuaries have increased gill damage, altered liver function and reduced reproductive capacity. One student defended his Ph.D. on this topic and is doing a postdoctoral work in Oregon. This information has been published in peer reviewed journals and has been presented at regional management meetings. A second Ph.D. student has been examining the impact of MTBE (a common fuel additive and groundwater contaminant) on blood vessel development. This work is ongoing and has resulted in a single peer reviewed publication and a second paper is in press. This work has important ramifications for understanding the impact of MTBE on reduced blood vessel development and the possibility as an anti-tumor agent since it is already approved for human drug use in gallstone treatment. In addition, we have been involved in the impact of the BP oil spill on the commercially important Menhaden juveniles and adults in the Gulf of Mexico with colleagues at LSU. Preliminary results were presented at a national scientific meeting, and to the NMFS researchers in Louisiana. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Sean Bugel recieved his degree this past year and worked full time on the project as his thesis project. Ms. Josie Bonventre is working 100% of her time on the MTBE project and will likely graduate in May 2012. We have collaborated with Dr. Ralph Portier at LSU and Drs. John Sowa and Carolyne Bentivegna at Seton hall on the oil spill project. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for this work have been professionals involved in management of contaminated areas or fishery stocks. Presentations have been made to researchers at the NOAA laboratory at Sandy Hook and Managers involved in the management of the NY/NJ Harbor. This involved groups from the NJDEP, EPA, NYDEC, Corps of Engineers, and local NGOs. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Because of our studies it has shown the importance of managing contamination in urban environments (historical and emerging contaminants) because of the impact on breeding and population sustainability. The measures we have employed are being used as biomarkers that can be measured to help determin the health of a fishery. This has shown that impacts on prey species reproduction can effect more important commercial species that rely on this food source. The work with MTBE has shown that this compound decreases blood vessel formation and may be useful in treating solid tumors that rely on blood vessel formation to increase in size. The work on the BP oil spill have shed light on the importance of the Menhadden as a commercially important species that could be impacted by such an accident. Again because of the importance of Menhaden as a prey species there could be an impact on fish that rely on Menhaden for a fodd source.
Publications
- McCormick J.M., Van Es T., Cooper K.R., White L.A., and Haggblom M.A 2011. Microbially Mediated O-methylation of BPA results in metabolites with increased toxicity to the developing zebrafish mbryo. ES&T. 45(15):6567-74. Bonventre J.A., White L.A., and Cooper K.R. 2011. Methyl tert butyl ether targets developing vasculature in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2011.05.006 Aquatic Toxicology. (In Press)
- Bugel S., White L.A., and Cooper K.R. 2011. Decreased vitellogenin inducibility and 17β-estradiol levels correlated with reduced egg production in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) from Newark Bay, NJ. Aquatic Toxicology. 105:1-12.
- Ming-Wei Chao, John Kozlosky, Iris P. Po, Kathy K. H. Svoboda, Robert Laumbach, Keith Cooper and Marion K. Gordon 2011. Capillary endothelial tubes as an in vitro culture model to study the effects of diesel exhaust particles. Toxicology. 279:73-84.
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