title: Effect-based assessment of persistent organic pollutant and pesticide dumpsite using mammalian CALUX reporter cell lines.
abstract: A combined chemical and biological analysis of samples from a major obsolete pesticide and persistent organic pollutant (POP) dumpsite in Northern Tajikistan was carried out. The chemical analytical screening focused on a range of prioritized compounds and compounds known to be present locally. Since chemical analytics does not allow measurements of hazards in complex mixtures, we tested the use of a novel effect-based approach using a panel of quantitative high-throughput CALUX reporter assays measuring distinct biological effects relevant in hazard assessment. Assays were included for assessing effects related to estrogen, androgen, and progestin signaling, aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated signaling, AP1 signaling, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, chemical hypoxia, and ER stress. With this panel of assays, we first quantified the biological activities of the individual chemicals measured in chemical analytics. Next, we calculated the expected sum activity by these chemicals in the samples of the pesticide dump site and compared the results with the measured CALUX bioactivity of the total extracts of these samples. The results showed that particularly endocrine disruption-related effects were common among the samples. This was consistent with the toxicological profiles of the individual chemicals that dominated these samples. However, large discrepancies between chemical and biological analysis were found in a sample from a burn place present in this site, with biological activities that could not be explained by chemical analysis. This is likely to be caused by toxic combustion products or by spills of compounds that were not targeted in the chemical analysis.
authors.affiliation: BioDetection Systems B.V., Science Park 406, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Bart.Pieterse@bds.nl.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pieterse
authors.affiliation: Witteveen+Bos Consulting Engineers B.V., Deventer, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I J C
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Rijk
authors.affiliation: BioDetection Systems B.V., Science Park 406, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: BioDetection Systems B.V., Science Park 406, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B M A
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: van Vugt-Lussenburg
authors.affiliation: Tauw B.V., Deventer, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B F H
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Fokke
authors.affiliation: Witteveen+Bos Consulting Engineers B.V., Deventer, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Wijk
authors.affiliation: BioDetection Systems B.V., Science Park 406, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Besselink
authors.affiliation: POPs Environmental Consulting, Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: BioDetection Systems B.V., Science Park 406, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van der Burg
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013620:Tajikistan; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities
chemical_list: D045424:Complex Mixtures; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D010575:Pesticides; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D008156:Luciferases
keywords: AhR; Bioassay; CALUX; Endocrine disruption; Mixture toxicity; Persistent organic pollutants (POPs); Pesticides; Risk assessment