Grant: Project Grant

Millions of pounds of electronic waste (e-waste) are produced globally per year and recycling to extract valuable materials leads to the release of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere, soil, and groundwater. Liquid crystal monomers are a large class of novel chemicals used in electronics and are emerging as contaminants of high concern. Their chemical properties and scientific studies suggest they are highly persistent and bioaccumulate; many are found in the environment, food sources, and human blood. Evidence suggests that liquid crystal monomers are endocrine-disrupting chemicals and they are predicted to be toxic. Yet, we have limited studies directly linking exposure, tissue accumulation, and reproductive toxicity in vertebrates. Increasing volumes of e-waste and the informal recycling of this refuse will lead to a higher exposures in humans, with little data on the impacts to reproductive health. This project will use a biomedical vertebrate model zebrafish to test the hypothesis that liquid crystal monomers found in e-waste can disrupt reproduction. Using zebrafish, we will 1) screen compounds proposed to be detrimental to reproduction in e-waste at concentrations relevant for human exposure and 2) perform detailed studies to assess the sex-specific effects of the top compounds and determine the relative reproductive effects from maternal and paternal exposures. The zebrafish is a vertebrate species with a highly similar reproductive system to mammals. The reproductive capacity of this animal will allow for faster screening of liquid crystal monomers commonly found in humans exposed to e-waste. We target concentrations based on human serum to characterise human health risks and will determine concentration ranges for effects. E-waste is increasing with our continued demand for newer technology, leading to increased exposure risk for humans. The research provided by this project will provide critical data for addressing the risk of exposure.