An effects-directed analyses (EDA) framework for endocrine active chemicals was developed to help decision makers quickly evaluate the efficacy and practicality of an EDA approach in waste and surface waters and how adjustments could be made to increase its success.
Effects‐directed analysis (EDA) is a technique utilized to isolate and identify biologically active components, such as endocrine‐active chemicals (EACs), from complex mixtures. Understanding which EACs elicit an adverse response in fish, wildlife, and humans is a challenge because most environmental exposures involve complex mixtures of chemicals, and it is difficult to isolate and identify the active agents. EDA identifies the biologically active agents from various fractions of a sample until the single chemical (or class of chemicals) that elicit a response is determined. EDA can guide the identification of the EAC that results in a response and can help rule out the EACs not responsible for the observed biological activity or response.
In a typical EDA for waste or surface water, large volumes of water are required because concentrations of EACs are typically low and near instrument detection limits. The sampling devices and laboratory space needed can present challenges and render this technique impractical. Therefore, the U.S. Geological Survey developed a representative EDA framework based on previous EDA research. This new framework is relevant to existing EAC concentrations, limits of quantitation for various laboratory analytical techniques, and the sensitivity of commonly used bioassays. The framework was designed to help decision makers to quickly evaluate the efficacy and practicality of an EDA approach and how adjustments, such as adjusting sample volume, could increase success.
The Environmental Health Program (Contaminants Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology) of the U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area supported this study.
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- Overview
An effects-directed analyses (EDA) framework for endocrine active chemicals was developed to help decision makers quickly evaluate the efficacy and practicality of an EDA approach in waste and surface waters and how adjustments could be made to increase its success.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A U.S. Geological Survey scientist in the cell bioassay laboratory at Columbia Environmental Research Center. Scientists optimized existing endocrine active chemical screening tests to improve their precision, accuracy, and ability to screen more samples in a shorter time-frame. Effects‐directed analysis (EDA) is a technique utilized to isolate and identify biologically active components, such as endocrine‐active chemicals (EACs), from complex mixtures. Understanding which EACs elicit an adverse response in fish, wildlife, and humans is a challenge because most environmental exposures involve complex mixtures of chemicals, and it is difficult to isolate and identify the active agents. EDA identifies the biologically active agents from various fractions of a sample until the single chemical (or class of chemicals) that elicit a response is determined. EDA can guide the identification of the EAC that results in a response and can help rule out the EACs not responsible for the observed biological activity or response.
In a typical EDA for waste or surface water, large volumes of water are required because concentrations of EACs are typically low and near instrument detection limits. The sampling devices and laboratory space needed can present challenges and render this technique impractical. Therefore, the U.S. Geological Survey developed a representative EDA framework based on previous EDA research. This new framework is relevant to existing EAC concentrations, limits of quantitation for various laboratory analytical techniques, and the sensitivity of commonly used bioassays. The framework was designed to help decision makers to quickly evaluate the efficacy and practicality of an EDA approach and how adjustments, such as adjusting sample volume, could increase success.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Large volumes of surface water are typically needed for an effects-directed analysis (EDA) The Environmental Health Program (Contaminants Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology) of the U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area supported this study.
- Science
Related science listed below.
Endocrine Active Chemical Screening Tests Optimized to Improve Precision, Accuracy, and Timeliness
Scientists optimized existing endocrine active chemical screening tests to improve their precision, accuracy, and ability to screen more samples in a shorter time-frame. The optimization was done to more rapidly obtain results from the bioassays so that research on the risks of endocrine active chemical exposure can proceed more rapidly.Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Science Team
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and provides critical resources to fish, wildlife and people. For more than a decade, recreational fish species have been plagued with skin lesions and intersex conditions (the presence of male and female sex characteristics in the same fish) that biologists attributed to exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)...Endocrine Active Effects on Turtle Embryonic Development
The Challenge: Emerging contaminants may be in part responsible for recent endocrine disruption observed in fish in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Endocrine active compounds implicated in the decline of fish populations may affect other wildlife as well. There are 6 species of turtles and 5 of snakes living within the main-stem and tidal areas of the Bay. As poikilotherms, reptiles are dependent on... - Publications