Determination of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in sediments from UK estuaries using a bio-analytical approach: chemical-activated luciferase expression (CALUX) assay.
The DR-CALUX assay has been utilised for the bio-analytical screening of a number of estuarine sediments for dioxin-like activity. Total sediment extracts (samples containing all extracted compounds) and cleaned-up extracts (samples with the most stable compounds isolated from the total extracts) were screened. The concentration of the stable dioxin-like compounds in the cleaned-up sediment extracts was between 1.0 and 106 pgTEQCALUX g(-1) dry weight. The majority of sediments contained levels of dioxin-like compounds that were above concentrations that are considered to be a low risk to aquatic organisms. The CALUX bio-analytical approach showed some disparity with the traditional analytical approach. The reasons for these differences have been identified tentatively: firstly, the DR-CALUX assay responds to all dioxin-like compounds, and secondly, it measures non-additive effects. The dioxin-like activity of compounds in sediment total extracts, which contain both labile and stable compounds, were also assessed and were six orders of magnitude higher than the cleaned-up samples. This suggests the vast majority of the total dioxin-like activity is attributable to labile compounds. Overall, the DR-CALUX assay is shown to be a useful tool in the assessment of dioxin-like activity in estuarine sediments.
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Burnham Laboratory, Remembrance Avenue, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex CM0 8HA, UK.
Mark R
MR
Hurst
Jan
J
Balaam
Yin L
YL
Chan-Man
John E
JE
Thain
Kevin V
KV
Thomas
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms; D049409:Luciferases, Firefly / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D006113:United Kingdom; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D004147:Dioxins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D049409:Luciferases, Firefly