aquatic-contamination
Aquatic contamination refers to the presence of pollutants—such as heavy metals, pesticides, nutrients, and microplastics—in freshwater and marine environments. For plant science, this topic is critical because aquatic plants and algae often serve as bioindicators of water quality, absorbing and accumulating contaminants in ways that reveal ecosystem health. Understanding how these pollutants affect plant physiology, growth, and reproduction also informs phytoremediation strategies, where aquatic vegetation is used to naturally filter and detoxify contaminated water systems.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-06-30
Researchers in South Korea found that estrogen metabolites from sewage treatment plants accumulate in freshwater fish and remain hormonally active, accounting for far more of the measured estrogenic contamination than the well-known estrogens scientists typically test for. Two compounds, epiestriol and 17-epiestriol, were largely overlooked until now.
Well-known estrogens (estrone, E2, estriol, ethinylestradiol) explained only 27% of estrogenic activity in fish muscle and 11% in eggs, leaving the majority of activity unaccounted for.
17-epiestriol, an estrogen breakdown product produced in sediments and transferred to fish, contributed up to 27% of measured estrogenic activity on its own.
A six-step screening workflow identified 14 candidate compounds; 7 of 11 tested were confirmed as newly recognized estrogen receptor agonists, primarily estrogen metabolites and anabolic agents.