Investigating the Influence of Coal Ash Heavy Metal Leachate on Thyroid Hormone Concentration, Hormone Receptor Gene Expression, and Spectral Sensitivity in Danio Rerio

Overview

As global energy needs have skyrocketed in the past decade, energy byproduct has increased in tandem. Places like Mooresville, North Carolina; Pineville, Indiana; and southeastern Puerto Rico serve as coal ash fill sites and cancer cluster hotspots. Yet, a s energy companies deny any link between ash and endocrine disruption, evidence points to ash heavy metals prompting thyroid toxicity. The goal of this study was to determine if coal ash heavy metal leachate can alter the light sensitivity, gene expression, or hormone production of thyroid processes within Danio Rerio. Danio rerio or zebrafish larvae were chosen to replicate disruption, as they have recently emerged as a model organism for thyroid diseases and disorders. To quantify endocrine disruption, zebrafish were exposed to artificially created coal ash leachate, and raised until 6dpf. As zebrafish color cones show insights into thyroid -catalyzed morphological development, zebrafish larvae movement was recorded in response to specialized light sequences. RT -PCR was performed to determine potential disrupt ion in the regulation of thyroid -related genes, namely TPO, DIO2, DIO3, and THRβ. Finally, immunosorbent assay kits quantified the amount of thyroid hormone TH4. Results indicate that coal-ash leachate significantly disrupts zebrafish behavioral response and gene expression, but not TH4 hormone levels. Additionally, results provide novel insights into zebrafish medium -wavelength color cone development. As legislation surrounding coal ash containment continues to weaken, the outcomes of this experiment will be invaluable to communities around the globe — seeking to uncover possible connections between ailments afflicting their neighbors and the coal ash that underlies their homes. North Central FULL MOON: A Novel and Economical Method for Sustainable Agriculture on the Moon Quinn Hughes Minnetonka High School, MN Lunar colonization will require sustainable agriculture using in-situ resources and minimal fostering materials from Earth. This study aimed to grow Raphanus sativus (radish) in a Lunar South Pole Regolith Simulant (LSP-2) substrate that yields plant biomass statistically non-inferior to Earth-soil control plants. Previous studies using augmented 75% lunar regolith simulant (not LSP-2) grew stressed plants. Research is needed t o support full -growth, nutritious agriculture while reducing fostering materials from Earth. Analysis of LSP -2’s chemical and physical properties indicated that augmentation is needed to support agriculture; including acidification, nitrogen fortification, microbe introduction, humus creation, and drainage. This experiment augmented LSP -2 with drainage, soil (15 mL per sample) and a substrate top -layer t hat was developed over each of four ten -week growth cycles integrating Lunar -grown Trifolium repens plant biomass as biofertilizer for the subsequent cycle. 100% LSP -2 plants did not sprout. After growth cycle 1 (G1, no biofertilizer), average radish bioma ss was significantly lower than control (p<0.01). After G2 (one cycle of biofertilizer worked into the top layer), average plant biomass increased (+17%), but was lower than control (p<0.01). After G3 (two biofertilizer cycles), average radish biomass incr eased 92%, inferior to control (p<0.01). After G4 (three biofertilizer cycles), the average dry biomass grew 48%, non -inferior to control (p=.4151). The null hypothesis is rejected. This approach, using just 4% Earth soil, a custom drainage system and thre e cycles of Lunar-grown biofertilizer, is the first method to successfully grow plant biomass in augmented LSP-2 non-inferior to Earth-grown crops.

Competition history

• JSHS 2025 Category not listed

Resources

• National JSHS abstract book ↗

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