Skip Navigation

University of Florida

Superfund Research Program

Molecular Mechanisms of Endocrine Disruption

Project Leader: Nancy D. Denslow
Co-Investigator: Patrick Larkin
Grant Number: P42ES007375
Funding Period: 2000-2006

Project-Specific Links

Connect with the Grant Recipients

Visit the grantee's eNewsletter page

Project Summary (2000-2006)

Exposure of wildlife and humans to environmental contaminants that behave as hormones (endocrine disruptors) has caused widespread concern. Reproductive damages reported to date include reduced fertility, reduced hatchability, reduced viability of offspring, impaired hormone activity and altered sexual behavior. Project investigators are centering their studies on understanding the involvement of nonylphenol (NP), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chloro-phenyl)ethylene (DDE), benzo[a]pyrene, and methoxychlor on endocrine disruption in largemouth bass found in the highly polluted Superfund site at Lake Apopka, and in the muck farms of central Florida. Laboratory in vivo and in vitro experiments are being conducted to help develop an endocrine toxicology based gene expression array (DNA chip) specific for fish that can be used to detect exposure to these endocrine disrupting compounds in the environment.

Back
to Top