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Cumulative assessment of steroid receptor mediated activity of contaminants in water samples using in vitro bioassays. -EMGS
Citation:
Wilson, V., J. Conley, N. Evans, M. Cardon, P. Hartig, AND E. Gray. Cumulative assessment of steroid receptor mediated activity of contaminants in water samples using in vitro bioassays. -EMGS. Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society, Raleigh, NC, September 09 - 13, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
In vitro bioassays provide value-added information regarding the types and levels of contaminants that may be present but that may or may not be evaluated by traditional analytical chemical determinations. Overall, the utility of using in vitro techniques as a screening tool and complement to analytical chemical This invited presentation will overview our work using in vitro bioassays for estrogen, androgen, and glucocorticoid activity of environmental samples.
Description:
Cell-based in vitro assays show promise for water quality monitoring applications due to high sensitivity, the ability to quantitatively detect a biologically relevant effect endpoint such as receptor transactivation (i.e., effect-based monitoring), and the ability to assess complex mixtures in which unknown compounds may be present. In vitro bioassays provide value-added information regarding the types and levels of contaminants that may be present but that may or may not be evaluated by traditional analytical chemical determinations. We conducted in vitro bioassays for estrogen, androgen, and glucocorticoid activity of environmental samples. These assays have successfully been utilized in studies of stream water, drinking water, and wastewater effluent in national water quality screening efforts in collaborative studies between USEPA and USGS. Estrogen receptor agonism is consistently the most frequently detected receptor activity across sample types and often is primarily (≥90%) explained by concentrations of estrone, with more minor/sporadic contributions of estriol, 17β-estradiol, and 17α-ethinyl estradiol. We have observed much fewer detections of AR or GR agonism in surface or source waters and typically with only minimal explanation of activity by the paired chemical analyses. Overall, the utility of using in vitro techniques as a screening tool and complement to analytical chemical determinations is apparent. Further, the ability to assess complex mixtures of environmental contaminants allows for effect-directed analysis of any aqueous sample for endocrine disrupting compounds and may prove useful as a scientifically defensible screening tool and contaminant identification method for both human and ecological risk assessment. Disclaimer: Abstract does not necessarily reflect USEPA policy.