Maumee River 2012 and 2016

The Maumee River and associated tributaries are an example of a system influenced by a mosaic of contaminant inputs from point and nonpoint sources along a gradient of land uses. To assess the potential effects of contaminants on aquatic biota in a system this complex requires a combination of targeted and nontargeted analytical and biological monitoring techniques to provide data that can be assembled and interpreted in an integrated manner. The aim of the current paper was to provide a practical demonstration of this type of approach using a variety of state-of-the-science pathway-based tools. Studies conducted in 2012 and 2106 showed that contaminants in the upper part of the Maumee River reflect agricultural practices, while downstream, the suite of chemicals present includes those from agriculture in conjunction with contaminants more indicative of a general urban setting, influenced in some areas by WWTP inputs. Biological responses using in vitro assays with surface water samples, and measures of biological responses in caged fish deployed a various sites in the Maumee River were used to assess the potential for perturbation of specific biological pathways. Overall there was little evidence for contaminant effects on endocrine pathways involved is reproduction or development. However, multiple lines of evidence suggested the presence of contaminants that could inhibit or induce cytochrome P450-based enzymes thereby influencing biological pathways/processes associated with these ubiquitous proteins.莫米河（Maumee River）及其相关支流是一类典型水生态系统，其受到土地利用梯度沿线点源与非点源的多种污染物输入共同影响。针对这类复杂系统中污染物对水生生物群落的潜在影响开展评估，需要结合靶向与非靶向分析及生物监测技术，以获取可通过整合方式进行组装与解读的数据。本研究旨在通过一系列前沿的基于通路的分析工具，实际演示这类研究方法的应用。2012年与2016年开展的研究显示，莫米河上游的污染物特征反映了农业活动的影响；下游区域的污染物组合则同时包含农业源污染物与典型城市环境特征的污染物，部分区域还受到污水处理厂（Wastewater Treatment Plant, WWTP）排放的影响。研究采用地表水样本的体外实验（in vitro assay），以及在莫米河多个点位布设的笼养鱼类的生物响应指标，来评估特定生物通路受到扰动的潜在风险。整体而言，几乎没有证据表明污染物会对参与生殖或发育过程的内分泌通路产生影响。然而，多项证据表明，该水域存在可抑制或诱导细胞色素P450（cytochrome P450）类酶的污染物，进而影响与这类普遍存在的蛋白质相关的生物通路与过程。