Abstract

The use of in vitro bioassays for studies of toxic activity in environmental water samples is a rapidly expanding field of research. Cell-based bioassays can assess the total toxicity exerted by a water sample, regardless whether the toxicity is caused by a known or unknown agent or by a complex mixture of different agents. When using bioassays for environmental water samples, it is often necessary to concentrate the water samples before applying the sample. Commonly, water samples are concentrated 10-50 times. However, there is always a risk of losing compounds in the sample in such sample preparation. We have developed an alternative experimental design by preparing a concentrated cell culture medium which was then diluted in the environmental water sample to compose the final cell culture media for the in vitro assays. Water samples from five Swedish waste water treatment plants were analyzed for oxidative stress response, estrogen receptor (ER), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activity using this experimental design. We were able to detect responses equivalent to 8.8-11.3 ng/L TCCD for AhR activity and 0.4-0.9 ng/L 17 beta-estradiol for ER activity. We were unable to detect oxidative stress response in any of the studied water samples. In conclusion, we have developed an experimental design allowing us to examine environmental water samples in toxicity in vitro assays at a concentration factor close to 1, without the risk of losing known or unknown compounds during an extraction procedure.

Keywords

In vitro assays; Estrogen receptor activity; Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activity; Oxidative stress; Nrf2

Published in

Environmental Science and Pollution Research
2018, Volume: 25, number: 12, pages: 12183-12188
Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

SLU Authors

• Niss, Frida

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Rosenmai, Anna

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Mandava, Geeta

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Örn, Stefan

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Oskarsson, Agneta

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lundqvist, Johan

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages


UKÄ Subject classification

Water Treatment


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1656-4

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/95870