US 7,627,434 B2 · Method for field-based ecological risk assessment using rodent sperm-analysis

Abstract

The invention is a method for assessing whether or not reproductive health effects are present in terrestrial ecological receptors inhabiting contaminated sites. Adult male rodents are concurrently trapped at the contaminated site of interest and at a matched non-contaminated reference location. In at least some embodiments, the sperm analysis can be corroborated with additional data to further increase the accuracy of the comparison. For a given small rodent species, three sperm parameters, all of which are barometers of reproductive success (a high concern ecological risk assessment toxicological endpoint), are compared in the animals trapped at the contaminated site and the animals trapped at the reference location. Where one or more of the sperm parameter thresholds are exceeded in the site rodents, and the difference is found to be statistically significant, the interpretation is that site terrestrial receptors are being reproductively compromised.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for assessing ecological risk to mammals, comprising:

collecting a representative sample of rodents from a contaminated site, wherein the rodents reflect generations of exposure to the contaminated site;
collecting a representative sample of rodents from an animal reference site;
comparing sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology of the rodents from the contaminated site with the rodents from the animal reference site;
determining whether the comparison between the sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology of the rodents from the contaminated site and of the rodents from the animal reference site exceeds sperm parameter benchmarks for sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology, thereby indicating if the rodents from the contaminated site have compromised reproductive success, wherein a decrease of approximately 80% to 90% in sperm count indicates comprised reproductive success;
and
making a determination about whether an ecological risk to terrestrial site mammals at the contaminated site is present or not based on whether said comparison exceeds the sperm parameter benchmarks.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for field-based ecological risk assessment using rodent sperm-analysis

Life of this patent

Method for field-based ecological risk assessment using rodent sperm-analysis

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22