title: Benzotriazole is antiestrogenic in vitro but not in vivo.
abstract: Benzotriazole (BT) is an anticorrosive agent well known for its use in aircraft deicing and antifreeze fluids but also used in dishwasher detergents. It is highly persistent in the environment; therefore, BT is frequently found in runoff emanating from large airports as well as in the surrounding groundwater. In addition, BT has recently been found to be ubiquitous in Swiss wastewater treatment plant effluents and their receiving waters; however, very little chronic toxicity data is available on which to base a sound ecological risk assessment of this chemical. In vitro assays conducted using a recombinant yeast (anti-) estrogen assay indicated that BT possessed clear antiestrogenic properties. This chemical was approximately 100-fold less potent than Tamoxifen, which was used as a positive control. A subsequent in vivo study, however, involving analysis of vitellogenin induction and somatic indices in adult fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) exposed to BT at concentrations of 10, 100, and 1,000 mug/L for two weeks showed no evidence of antiestrogenic activity by this compound. The possibility exists that higher concentrations of BT may yet induce the type of activity observed in vitro, although the concentrations used here already far exceed those reported in surface-water samples. Furthermore, adverse effects may be observed in fish or other organisms exposed to BT for a longer period than employed here, although such studies are costly and unlikely to be included in standard risk assessment procedures. A rigorous investigation of the chronic toxicity of BT is imperative.
authors.affiliation: Ecotoxicology Research Group, Institute for the Environment, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom. catherine.harris@brunel.ac.uk
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Edwin J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Routledge
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schaffner
authors.forename: Jayne V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Brian
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Giger
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sumpter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D007220:Industrial Waste; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014230:Triazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity*; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000097:blood; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D007220:Industrial Waste; D014230:Triazoles; D014819:Vitellogenins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D013629:Tamoxifen; C012771:benzotriazole