Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

Spring 4-24-2018

Abstract

Studies of the effects of estrogen in aquatic ecosystems largely focus on fish. In fish, estrogen reduces fecundity in females, reduces testicular development and fertility in males, and alters vitellogenin production in both sexes. One way estrogens enter aquatic environments is via wastewater effluents. Effluent samples from the Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee were tested for the presence of 17-beta-estradiol (E2), using an Agilent 1260 Infinity LC (HPLC). We were not able to detect the presence of E2 in these samples with the methods described. However, when effluent samples were spiked with stock E2 (final concentration of 0.318 mM), consistent retention times with a corresponding peak were seen. If E2 is present, the absorbable readings could be below the minimum accurate detection limit of our machine (3-2,000 mAU).

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Biology Commons

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