Evaluation of the estrogenic potential of river and treated waters in the Paris area (France) using in vivo and in vitro assays.
For many years, surface waters have been shown to be contaminated by endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), which can cause adverse effects on human and wildlife growth, development, and reproduction. It is therefore of primary importance to determine if drinking water could be contaminated by EDCs when produced from polluted surface waters. It is also essential to determine if disinfection by-products can account for estrogenic activity in treated waters. The estrogenic potential of river and treated waters was investigated using an in vivo assay. Adult male zebrafish were placed in three drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) in the Paris area and exposed for 1 month to the two types of waters. After exposure, vitellogenin (VTG) was measured in the plasma of fish using a competitive ELISA. In addition, an in vitro assay (MELN cells) was used to assess the estrogenic potential of 10 major chlorination by-products. No significant induction of VTG was observed in fish exposed to river or treated waters. Among the 10 chlorination by-products tested, only 2-chlorophenol was found to be weakly estrogenic at concentrations up to 1mg/L. Therefore, the risk for the three DWTPs studied to produce drinking water with significant level of estrogenic substances appears to be low.
Cargouët
Maëlle
M
Université Paris Sud 11-Faculté de Pharmacie, EA 3542 Santé Publique-Environnement, 5, rue Jean-Baptiste Clément, 92 296 Châtenay-Malabry cedex, France. maelle.cargouet@cep.u-psud.fr
Perdiz
Daniel
D
Levi
Yves
Y
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004967:Estrogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D005618:Fresh Water; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases; D008297:Male; D010297:Paris; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000097:blood; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D014881:Water Supply; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000378:metabolism*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000097:blood
D004202:Disinfectants; D004967:Estrogens; D014819:Vitellogenins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C486450:vtg1 protein, zebrafish; D008156:Luciferases