A qualitative meta-analysis reveals consistent effects of atrazine on freshwater fish and amphibians.

Objective: The biological effects of the herbicide atrazine on freshwater vertebrates are highly controversial. In an effort to resolve the controversy, we conducted a qualitative meta-analysis on the effects of ecologically relevant atrazine concentrations on amphibian and fish survival, behavior,...

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Publicado en:Environmental Health Perspectives Vol. 118; no. 1; pp. 20 - 33
Autores principales: Rohr JR, McCoy KA
Formato: meta analysis research systematic review tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Jan2010
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      pub: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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        atl: A qualitative meta-analysis reveals consistent effects of atrazine on freshwater fish and amphibians.
      aug:
        au:
          Rohr JR
          McCoy KA
        affil: Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620; jasonrohr@gmail.com
      sug:
        subj:
          Endocrine Glands Drug Effects
          Environmental Monitoring
          Herbicides Adverse Effects
          Marine Animals
          Reproduction Drug Effects
          Animal Studies
          Animals
          Funding Source
          Gonads Drug Effects
          Meta Analysis
          Sex Hormones Drug Effects
          Systematic Review
      ab: Objective: The biological effects of the herbicide atrazine on freshwater vertebrates are highly controversial. In an effort to resolve the controversy, we conducted a qualitative meta-analysis on the effects of ecologically relevant atrazine concentrations on amphibian and fish survival, behavior, metamorphic traits, infections, and immune, endocrine, and reproductive systems. Data sources: We used published, peer-reviewed research and applied strict quality criteria for inclusion of studies in the meta-analysis. Data synthesis: We found little evidence that atrazine consistently caused direct mortality of fish or amphibians, but we found evidence that it can have indirect and sublethal effects. The relationship between atrazine concentration and timing of amphibian metamorphosis was regularly nonmonotonic, indicating that atrazine can both accelerate and delay metamorphosis. Atrazine reduced size at or near metamorphosis in 15 of 17 studies and 14 of 14 species. Atrazine elevated amphibian and fish activity in 12 of 13 studies, reduced antipredator behaviors in 6 of 7 studies, and reduced olfactory abilities for fish but not for amphibians. Atrazine was associated with a reduction in 33 of 43 immune function end points and with an increase in 13 of 16 infection end points. Atrazine altered at least one aspect of gonadal morphology in 7 of 10 studies and consistently affected gonadal function, altering spermatogenesis in 2 of 2 studies and sex hormone concentrations in 6 of 7 studies. Atrazine did not affect vitellogenin in 5 studies and increased aromatase in only 1 of 6 studies. Effects of atrazine on fish and amphibian reproductive success, sex ratios, gene frequencies, populations, and communities remain uncertain. Conclusions: Although there is much left to learn about the effects of atrazine, we identified several consistent effects of atrazine that must be weighed against any of its benefits and the costs and benefits of alternatives to atrazine use.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        meta analysis
        research
        systematic review
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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