The Effect of Bisphenol-A (BPA) on the Feminization of Danio Rerio

In lakes and rivers all across the world, there has been an increase in the feminization of male fish due to the presence of endocrine disrupters (Rhee et al., 2010). It has been found that pollutants such as Bisphenol-A (BPA), farm runoff, and soil contaminants from municipal wastewater treatment plants can increase the amount of endocrine disrupters in water systems (Kidd et al., 2006). The project focused on BPA and its effect on adult and juvenile fish.

Danio rerio were exposed to BPA concentrations of 0.0, 0.2, 2.0, and 20.0 parts per billion (ppb) for one week. D. rerio spawned and eggs were collected. The fish fry were exposed to the same concentrations as the parent generation until they reached adulthood. Through the use of statistical analysis it was found there was a significant difference in the percent fertilized for 0.0 ppb vs 2.0 ppb (p=0.001) and 0.2ppb vs 20.0 ppb (p=0.003). There was no significant difference in percent survived or percent hatched for all concentrations (p>0.05). The young were visually observed to have a larger ratio of females to males in all concentrations.  

Further testing should be done to see if BPA is the exact cause of feminization.