Screening of estrogen-like activity of mineral water stored in PET bottles.
Bottled mineral water consumption is steadily rising in the World. Italy is the largest natural mineral water consumer in Western Europe, about 200L per capita per annum. Recently, research has concentrated upon emerging toxicological problems such as the presence in drinking water of substances which interfere with the function of the endocrine system; defined as endocrine disruptors (EDs). The aim of this study was to assess the risk of exposure of the population to chemicals with estrogen-like activity through mineral water consumption by monitoring the presence of estrogenic compounds in mineral water bottled in polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A solid phase extraction (SPE) with C18 cartridges was carried out. The estrogenic activity of the extracts was assayed using a yeast assay expressing the human estrogen receptor alpha (hERalpha). This preliminary study shows that more than 90% of the water samples did not exhibit any appreciable estrogenic activity. The highest estrogenic activity detected in water extracts was equivalent to the activity induced by 23.1ng/L of the natural hormone 17beta-estradiol. Some mineral water samples showed toxicity on yeast cells.
Department of Experimental Pathology, Medical Biotechnology, Infectivology and Epidemiology, University of Pisa, 37 Via San Zeno, 56127 Pisa, Italy. b.pinto@med.unipi.it
Barbara
B
Pinto
Daniela
D
Reali
D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000187:drug effects
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004967:Estrogens; D008900:Mineral Waters; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D004958:Estradiol