Prior knowledge-based approach for associating contaminants with biological effects: A case study in the St. Croix River basin, MN, WI, USA

Anthony L. Schroeder; Dalma Martinović-Weigelt; Gerald T. Ankley; Kathy E. Lee; Natalia Garcia-Reyero; Edward J. Perkins; Heiko L. Schoenfuss; Daniel L. Villeneuve

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.005

Prior knowledge-based approach for associating contaminants with biological effects: A case study in the St. Croix River basin, MN, WI, USA

Anthony L. Schroeder, Dalma Martinović-Weigelt, Gerald T. Ankley, Kathy E. Lee, Natalia Garcia-Reyero, Edward J. Perkins, Heiko L. Schoenfuss, Daniel L. Villeneuve

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18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Evaluating potential adverse effects of complex chemical mixtures in the environment is challenging. One way to address that challenge is through more integrated analysis of chemical monitoring and biological effects data. In the present study, water samples from five locations near two municipal wastewater treatment plants in the St. Croix River basin, on the border of MN and WI, USA, were analyzed for 127 organic contaminants. Known chemical-gene interactions were used to develop site-specific knowledge assembly models (KAMs) and formulate hypotheses concerning possible biological effects associated with chemicals detected in water samples from each location. Additionally, hepatic gene expression data were collected for fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) exposed in situ, for 12 d, at each location. Expression data from oligonucleotide microarrays were analyzed to identify functional annotation terms enriched among the differentially-expressed probes. The general nature of many of the terms made hypothesis formulation on the basis of the transcriptome-level response alone difficult. However, integrated analysis of the transcriptome data in the context of the site-specific KAMs allowed for evaluation of the likelihood of specific chemicals contributing to observed biological responses. Thirteen chemicals (atrazine, carbamazepine, metformin, thiabendazole, diazepam, cholesterol, p-cresol, phenytoin, omeprazole, ethyromycin, 17β-estradiol, cimetidine, and estrone), for which there was statistically significant concordance between occurrence at a site and expected biological response as represented in the KAM, were identified. While not definitive, the approach provides a line of evidence for evaluating potential cause-effect relationships between components of a complex mixture of contaminants and biological effects data, which can inform subsequent monitoring and investigation.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	427-436
Number of pages	10
Journal	Environmental Pollution
Volume	221
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.005
State	Published - 2017

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Support by the USGS and National Park Service Water Quality Partnership Program, US EPA (Office of Research and Development's Chemical Safety for Sustainability Research Program, and Region 5, Great Lakes National Program Office), and National Science Foundation (CBET-1336062/1336165/1336604 to DM-W). We thank Sarah Elliott, Jeffery Ziegeweid, and Brent Mason at USGS for their field support; and Byron Karns at NPS for logistical support. We thank Maya Peters, Jackie Heitzman, Abigail Lukowicz, Evan Eid, Kyle Stevens, Jenna Cavallin, Megan Hughes, Krysta Nelson, Rebecca Milsk, Travis Saari, and Eric Randolph for help with network development. We thank Lynn Escalon for microarray analysis. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The contents neither constitute, nor necessarily reflect, US EPA policy. Permission was granted by the Chief of Engineers to publish this information.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016

Keywords

Adverse outcome pathway
Chemical mixtures
Chemical-gene interactions
Comparative toxicogenomics database
Contaminants

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.005

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Schroeder, A. L., Martinović-Weigelt, D., Ankley, G. T., Lee, K. E., Garcia-Reyero, N., Perkins, E. J., Schoenfuss, H. L., & Villeneuve, D. L. (2017). Prior knowledge-based approach for associating contaminants with biological effects: A case study in the St. Croix River basin, MN, WI, USA. Environmental Pollution, 221, 427-436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.005

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abstract = "Evaluating potential adverse effects of complex chemical mixtures in the environment is challenging. One way to address that challenge is through more integrated analysis of chemical monitoring and biological effects data. In the present study, water samples from five locations near two municipal wastewater treatment plants in the St. Croix River basin, on the border of MN and WI, USA, were analyzed for 127 organic contaminants. Known chemical-gene interactions were used to develop site-specific knowledge assembly models (KAMs) and formulate hypotheses concerning possible biological effects associated with chemicals detected in water samples from each location. Additionally, hepatic gene expression data were collected for fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) exposed in situ, for 12 d, at each location. Expression data from oligonucleotide microarrays were analyzed to identify functional annotation terms enriched among the differentially-expressed probes. The general nature of many of the terms made hypothesis formulation on the basis of the transcriptome-level response alone difficult. However, integrated analysis of the transcriptome data in the context of the site-specific KAMs allowed for evaluation of the likelihood of specific chemicals contributing to observed biological responses. Thirteen chemicals (atrazine, carbamazepine, metformin, thiabendazole, diazepam, cholesterol, p-cresol, phenytoin, omeprazole, ethyromycin, 17β-estradiol, cimetidine, and estrone), for which there was statistically significant concordance between occurrence at a site and expected biological response as represented in the KAM, were identified. While not definitive, the approach provides a line of evidence for evaluating potential cause-effect relationships between components of a complex mixture of contaminants and biological effects data, which can inform subsequent monitoring and investigation.",

keywords = "Adverse outcome pathway, Chemical mixtures, Chemical-gene interactions, Comparative toxicogenomics database, Contaminants",

author = "Schroeder, {Anthony L.} and Dalma Martinovi{\'c}-Weigelt and Ankley, {Gerald T.} and Lee, {Kathy E.} and Natalia Garcia-Reyero and Perkins, {Edward J.} and Schoenfuss, {Heiko L.} and Villeneuve, {Daniel L.}",

note = "Funding Information: Support by the USGS and National Park Service Water Quality Partnership Program, US EPA (Office of Research and Development's Chemical Safety for Sustainability Research Program, and Region 5, Great Lakes National Program Office), and National Science Foundation (CBET-1336062/1336165/1336604 to DM-W). We thank Sarah Elliott, Jeffery Ziegeweid, and Brent Mason at USGS for their field support; and Byron Karns at NPS for logistical support. We thank Maya Peters, Jackie Heitzman, Abigail Lukowicz, Evan Eid, Kyle Stevens, Jenna Cavallin, Megan Hughes, Krysta Nelson, Rebecca Milsk, Travis Saari, and Eric Randolph for help with network development. We thank Lynn Escalon for microarray analysis. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The contents neither constitute, nor necessarily reflect, US EPA policy. Permission was granted by the Chief of Engineers to publish this information. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016",

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doi = "10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.005",

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AU - Schroeder, Anthony L.

AU - Martinović-Weigelt, Dalma

AU - Ankley, Gerald T.

AU - Lee, Kathy E.

AU - Garcia-Reyero, Natalia

AU - Perkins, Edward J.

AU - Schoenfuss, Heiko L.

AU - Villeneuve, Daniel L.

N1 - Funding Information: Support by the USGS and National Park Service Water Quality Partnership Program, US EPA (Office of Research and Development's Chemical Safety for Sustainability Research Program, and Region 5, Great Lakes National Program Office), and National Science Foundation (CBET-1336062/1336165/1336604 to DM-W). We thank Sarah Elliott, Jeffery Ziegeweid, and Brent Mason at USGS for their field support; and Byron Karns at NPS for logistical support. We thank Maya Peters, Jackie Heitzman, Abigail Lukowicz, Evan Eid, Kyle Stevens, Jenna Cavallin, Megan Hughes, Krysta Nelson, Rebecca Milsk, Travis Saari, and Eric Randolph for help with network development. We thank Lynn Escalon for microarray analysis. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The contents neither constitute, nor necessarily reflect, US EPA policy. Permission was granted by the Chief of Engineers to publish this information. Publisher Copyright: © 2016

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Evaluating potential adverse effects of complex chemical mixtures in the environment is challenging. One way to address that challenge is through more integrated analysis of chemical monitoring and biological effects data. In the present study, water samples from five locations near two municipal wastewater treatment plants in the St. Croix River basin, on the border of MN and WI, USA, were analyzed for 127 organic contaminants. Known chemical-gene interactions were used to develop site-specific knowledge assembly models (KAMs) and formulate hypotheses concerning possible biological effects associated with chemicals detected in water samples from each location. Additionally, hepatic gene expression data were collected for fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) exposed in situ, for 12 d, at each location. Expression data from oligonucleotide microarrays were analyzed to identify functional annotation terms enriched among the differentially-expressed probes. The general nature of many of the terms made hypothesis formulation on the basis of the transcriptome-level response alone difficult. However, integrated analysis of the transcriptome data in the context of the site-specific KAMs allowed for evaluation of the likelihood of specific chemicals contributing to observed biological responses. Thirteen chemicals (atrazine, carbamazepine, metformin, thiabendazole, diazepam, cholesterol, p-cresol, phenytoin, omeprazole, ethyromycin, 17β-estradiol, cimetidine, and estrone), for which there was statistically significant concordance between occurrence at a site and expected biological response as represented in the KAM, were identified. While not definitive, the approach provides a line of evidence for evaluating potential cause-effect relationships between components of a complex mixture of contaminants and biological effects data, which can inform subsequent monitoring and investigation.

AB - Evaluating potential adverse effects of complex chemical mixtures in the environment is challenging. One way to address that challenge is through more integrated analysis of chemical monitoring and biological effects data. In the present study, water samples from five locations near two municipal wastewater treatment plants in the St. Croix River basin, on the border of MN and WI, USA, were analyzed for 127 organic contaminants. Known chemical-gene interactions were used to develop site-specific knowledge assembly models (KAMs) and formulate hypotheses concerning possible biological effects associated with chemicals detected in water samples from each location. Additionally, hepatic gene expression data were collected for fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) exposed in situ, for 12 d, at each location. Expression data from oligonucleotide microarrays were analyzed to identify functional annotation terms enriched among the differentially-expressed probes. The general nature of many of the terms made hypothesis formulation on the basis of the transcriptome-level response alone difficult. However, integrated analysis of the transcriptome data in the context of the site-specific KAMs allowed for evaluation of the likelihood of specific chemicals contributing to observed biological responses. Thirteen chemicals (atrazine, carbamazepine, metformin, thiabendazole, diazepam, cholesterol, p-cresol, phenytoin, omeprazole, ethyromycin, 17β-estradiol, cimetidine, and estrone), for which there was statistically significant concordance between occurrence at a site and expected biological response as represented in the KAM, were identified. While not definitive, the approach provides a line of evidence for evaluating potential cause-effect relationships between components of a complex mixture of contaminants and biological effects data, which can inform subsequent monitoring and investigation.

KW - Adverse outcome pathway

KW - Chemical mixtures

KW - Chemical-gene interactions

KW - Comparative toxicogenomics database

KW - Contaminants

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M3 - Article

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AN - SCOPUS:85008158189

SN - 0269-7491

VL - 221

SP - 427

EP - 436

JO - Environmental Pollution

JF - Environmental Pollution

ER -

Prior knowledge-based approach for associating contaminants with biological effects: A case study in the St. Croix River basin, MN, WI, USA

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Publisher link

Find It

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