Abstract

This study aimed to determine the concentration of some estrogens like 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) and bisphenol A (BPA) in agriculture drainage water that used in Egyptian fish farms and to evaluate the oxidative degradation effect of potassium permanganate on these estrogenic pollutants. In addition to assess vitellogenin gene expression on mature male Oreochromis niloticus as a biomarker for estrogenisity. Three groups of males were allocated in three farm ponds filled with agriculture drainage water used in Egyptian fish farms. Water of two of them was treated with potassium permanganate in a concentration of 2.5 and 5 ppm while that of the third pond was kept as untreated control. Other three groups were allocated in three laboratory glass aquariums filled with tap water. Water of two of them was treated with 2.5 and 5 ppm potassium permanganate, while the third was kept as untreated control. The concentrations of E2, EE2 and BPA assessed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were 9.150, 16.655 and 0.371 mg/L respectively in ponds water and only 0.125 mg/L bisphenol in tap water. This concentration declined in agriculture water treated by 2.5 ppm, moreover E2 and EE2 were completely eliminated with 5 ppm. As an accurate biomarker for estrogenicity, vitellogenin gene expression was assessed in the livers of all groups. A significant downregulation in farm treated groups was observed compared to control, it was 0.108 and 0.029 fold for 2.5 and 5 ppm, respectively.

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