Estrogen receptor (ER) agonists and androgen receptor (AR) antagonists in effluents from Norwegian North Sea oil production platforms.
The in vitro estrogen receptor (ER) agonist and androgen receptor (AR) antagonist potencies of offshore produced water effluents collected from the Norwegian Sector were determined using recombinant yeast estrogen and androgen screens. Solid phase extraction (SPE) concentrates of the effluents showed E2 agonist activities similar to those previously reported for the United Kingdom (UK) Continental Shelf (<0.1-4 ng E2 L(-1)). No activity was detected in the filtered oil droplets suggesting that produced water ER activity is primarily associated with the dissolved phase. Targeted analysis for methyl- to nonyl-substituted alkylphenol isomers show the occurrence of known ER agonists in the analysed samples. For the first time, AR antagonists were detected in both the dissolved and oil associated phase at concentrations of between 20 and 8000 microg of flutamide equivalents L(-1). The identity of the AR antagonists is unknown, however this represents a significant input into the marine environment of unknown compounds that exert a known biological effect. It is recommended that further analysis using techniques such as bioassay-directed analysis is performed to identify the compounds/groups of compounds that are responsible in order to improve the assessment of the risk posed by produced water discharges to the marine environment.
Tollefsen
Knut-Erik
KE
NIVA, Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research, Gaustadalléen 21,Oslo, Norway.
Harman
Christopher
C
Smith
Andy
A
Thomas
Kevin V
KV
D059002:Androgen Receptor Antagonists; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D009664:Norway; D010578:Petroleum; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000819:agonists*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D059002:Androgen Receptor Antagonists; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010578:Petroleum; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical