| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R24999/01 |
| Title: |
Sexual Chemistry: Identifying the Chemicals Causing Endocrine Disruption In Fish In UK Rivers |
| Principal Investigator: |
Hill, Professor E |
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| Department: |
Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Sussex |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
24 September 2001 |
Ends: |
23 September 2004 |
Value (£): |
145,710
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Bioprocess Engineering |
Instrumentation Eng. & Dev. |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Chemicals |
Environment |
| Water |
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Endocrine disruption is a very high profile, but controversial, area in environmental research. Our research produced the original data to show that effluent from sewage treatment works was oestrogenic to fish and that the discharge of these effluents into UK rivers resulted in gonadal feminisation in wild fish. We subsequently showed that the reproductive potential of these'intersex' fish was compromised. This research was essential in initiating a field of research known as endocrine disruption, a phenomenon which potentially has very wide reaching impacts for wildlife and humans. We have identified some of the oestrogenic chemicals in STWs effluents, but we have been unable to determine the causative agents of intersexuality in fish exposed to these effluents. To do this we need to identify what endocrine disrupting chemicals (and their degradation products) get into fish exposed to complex effluents. This will be done using LC-MS-NMR methods combined with sophisticated associated computational facilities. This innovative work addresses the main objectives of the EPSRC Life Sciences Programme, bringing physical sciences to underpin research in life sciences and linking EPSRC with NERC research programmes.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.sussex.ac.uk |