Abstract

Surface water can be contaminated with pollutants from multiple sources and contain a vast number of various chemicals. In vitro bioassays are valuable tools to assess the total bioactivity of micropollutants in water samples. Besides anthropogenic chemicals, natural organic matter (NOM) is ubiquitous in water, which also may have an impact on the bioactivity in water samples.In the present study we investigated concentration-dependent effects of Nordic Aquatic fulvic acid (NA-FA) and Nordic reservoir NOM (NR-NOM) on bioactivity measured by a panel of luciferase reporter gene assays. The assays included measurements of both induction of activities and inhibition of induced activation on aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor (ER), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, and on the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) activity as a marker of oxidative stress.At non-cytotoxic concentrations both NA-FA and NR-NOM induced AhR activity, inhibited AR activity with and without the known inducer dihydrotestosterone, inhibited Nrf2 activity, and NR-NOM induced ER activity. The results indicate that the presence of NOM in water samples may lead to false positive results for AhR activity and false positive results for AR and Nrf2 activity, when assessing inhibition of induced bioactivities from anthropogenic substances. We have demonstrated that NA-FA and NR-NOM have an impact on in vitro bioactivities and conclude that the impact of NOM in water should be considered in the evaluation of results from bioactivity assays. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Dissolved organic carbon; Fulvic acid; Androgen receptor; Estrogen receptor; Aryl hydrocarbon receptor; Nrf2

Published in

Chemosphere
2018, Volume: 200, pages: 209-216
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

SLU Authors

• Rosenmai, Anna

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Niss, Frida

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Mandava, Geeta

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lundqvist, Johan

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Oskarsson, Agneta

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages


UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.02.081

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/94940