The naturally occurring carcinogen ptaquiloside is present in groundwater below bracken vegetation.
The present study demonstrates unequivocally the presence of the natural carcinogen ptaquiloside and its transformation product pterosin B in groundwater and surface water. Groundwater concentrations up to 0.23 nmol/L (92 ng/L) ptaquiloside and up to 2.2 nmol/L (0.47 µg/L) pterosin B were found. Of 21 groundwater samples, 5 contained ptaquiloside, exceeding the estimated threshold for drinking water (1.3-40 pmol/L). The results are critical for water abstraction in bracken-infested areas.
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Frederik
F
Clauson-Kaas
Pia H
PH
Jensen
Ole S
OS
Jacobsen
René K
RK
Juhler
Hans Christian B
HC
Hansen
D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D007189:Indans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry
D002273:Carcinogens; D007189:Indans; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D012987:Soil; C586064:pterosin B; C043680:ptaquiloside
Contaminant of emerging concern; Environmental fate; Groundwater; Natural toxin; Pteridium aquilinum