title: 4-methylphenol produced in freshwater sediment microcosms is not a bisphenol A metabolite.
abstract: 4-Methylphenol (4-MP), a putative bisphenol A (BPA) degradation intermediate, was detected at concentrations reaching 2.1 mg L(-1) in anoxic microcosms containing 10 mg L(-1) BPA and 5 g of freshwater sediment material collected from four geographically distinct locations and amended with nitrate, nitrite, ferric iron, or bicarbonate as electron acceptors. 4-MP accumulation was transient, and 4-MP degradation was observed under all redox conditions tested. 4-MP was not detected in microcosms not amended with BPA. Unexpectedly, incubations with (13)C-labeled BPA failed to produce (13)C-labeled 4-MP suggesting that 4-MP was not derived from BPA. The detection of 4-MP in live microcosms amended with lactate, but not containing BPA corroborated that BPA was not the source of 4-MP. These findings demonstrate that the transient formation of 4-MP as a possible BPA degradation intermediate must be interpreted cautiously, as microbial activity in streambed microcosms may generate 4-MP from sediment-associated organic material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States.
authors.forename: Jeongdae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Im
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States.
authors.forename: Carson W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Prevatte
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States.
authors.forename: Hong Geun
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States.
authors.forename: Shawn R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Campagna
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (UT-ORNL) Joint Institute for Biological Sciences (JIBS) and Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, United States. Electronic address: frank.loeffler@utk.edu.
authors.forename: Frank E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Löffler
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003408:Cresols / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D003408:Cresols; D010636:Phenols; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C032538:4-cresol; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
keywords: 4-Methylphenol; Bisphenol A (BPA); Degradation; Microcosm; Sediment