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Manuscript Published in Environmental Pollution Journal

Findings from Jacob Cleary’s masters project have been recently published in Environmental Pollution Journal. Jacob found a significant reduction in sperm count and sperm motility as well as fertilization efficiency in the third generation male medaka due to grandparental early life exposure to atrazine, a broad-spectrum herbicide used in the United States and other parts of the world. Transgenerational health effects are not caused by immediate exposure to toxicants but due to ancestral exposure. Looks like grandparent’s life style affects the health of current generation, and current generation exposure may affect the health of grandchildren two generations later. Mechanisms underlying these far reaching health effects of exposure are currently enigmatic.

Cleary JAa, Tillitt DEb, vom Saal FSc, Nicks DKb, Claunch RAb, Bhandari RKa,* (2019). Atrazine Induced Transgenerational Reproductive Effects in Medaka (Oryzias latipes). Environmental Pollution, 251: 631-650. [PMID: 31108297]

a Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412
b Columbia Environmental Research Center, US Geological Survey, Columbia, MO, 65201
c Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211
“The project was funded by U.S. Geological Survey, Contaminant Biology Program through a cooperative agreement.”


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