Project in brief
The induction of imposex in dogwhelks Nucella lapillus remains the best-characterized example of endocrine disruption in wildlife (Matthiessen and Gibbs, 1998) and the only example where an unequivocal causal association has been proved with the endocrine disrupting chemical TBT. It is, therefore, possibly the best example of endocrine disruption in a wildlife species. Studies have shown that DNA damage and endocrine disruption occurred simultaneously in dogwhelks exposed to TBT, as did hyperplasmic growths (Hagger et al, 2006).
In mammals, DNA damage and cellular proliferation usually signal a precancerous state. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (i.e. pesticides, flame retardants, plasticizers) pose potential hazards to humans, with more than 1000 types of EDCs being identified as prevalent in daily life (Chen et al., 2022). EDCs may increase free radicals, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), thus leading to oxidative DNA damage.
By using N. lapillus as an alternative in vivo model, we can study the complex interactions between environmental exposure, genetic response, and carcinogenesis.