Research Product

Intersexuality in the form of masculinization has been observed among poeciliid fishes (i.e., mosquitofish, least killifish, and sailfin molly) from streams receiving paper mill effluent (i.e., kraft mill effluent). The degree of masculinization is related to the relative concentration and duration of exposure to KME. Compounds associated with KME apparently act as endocrine disruptors to the normal expression of secondary sex characters. Monitoring intersexuality in these fishes may serve as a useful sentinel to detect endocrine disruptors in the environment.