Impacts of Estrogen Exposure on Minnesota's Shallow Lake Wildlife

Endocrine-disrupting contaminants such as environmental estrogens have been found and studied in large lakes and streams and shown to exist at concentrations that have adverse effects on wildlife. However, very little is known about the sources and effects of environmental estrogens in small, shallow lakes. Preliminary data suggests that these compounds are present in shallow lakes and have an effect on the survival and reproduction of wildlife. Researchers at the University of St. Thomas are using this appropriation to determine the extent to which aquatic wildlife in shallow lakes are being exposed to environmental estrogens, the land-use practices that correlate with exposure, and the amount of detrimental impact that exposure creates in order to enhance land and water management practices.