Abstract
Background
Soil samples from remote Alpine areas were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls by high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution gas spectrometry. Additionally, the EROD micro-assay and a genetically modified yeast estrogen bioassay were carried out to determine persistent aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhR) and estrogen receptors (ER) agonists, respectively. Regarding the AhR agonists, the toxicity equivalents of analytical and EROD determined values were compared, targeting both altitude of samples and their soil organic content. The ratio between bioassay derived equivalents and analytical determinations suggested no significant contribution of unknown AhR inducers in these sampling sites and some antagonism in soils with relatively high PCB loading. More CYP1A1 expression was induced at the highest sites or about 1400–1500 m a.s.l. along the altitude profiles. Surprisingly, no clear tendencies with the soil organic content were found for dioxin-like compounds. Mean values obtained in the present study were for ER agonists, 0.37 ± 0.12 pg 17ß-estradiol EQ g−1 dry soil and 6.1 ± 4.2 pg TCDD-EQ g−1 dry soil for AhR agonists.
Conclusion
Low bioassay responses with a higher relative amount of AhR inducers than ER disrupters were detected, indicating the higher abundance of persistent dioxin-like than estrogen-like compounds in these forested mountainous areas.
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Acknowledgements
MONARPOP is funded by the EU Interreg III B Alpine Space Programme (Alpine Space) and by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment, and Water Management (lead partner of MONARPOP); by the Bavarian State Ministry for Environment, Health, and Consumer Protection; and by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (together with the institutions listed above). We are also thankful for funding by the Bavarian State Ministry for Environment and Health (project number 76a-8731.2-2000/1). The modified yeast strain was a gift from Toine Bovee (RIKILT, Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen University and Research Center, The Netherlands).
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An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3607-z.
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Table S1
Relevant information related to the altitude profiles (DOC 100 kb)
Table S2
Soil sample bioassay efficacies: % of 2,3,7,8-TCDD maximal response in the EROD assay and as % of 17ß-estradiol maximal response in the dose–response curve of the YES assay (DOC 241 kb)
Table S3
PCB concentrations along the altitude profiles (pg congener g−1 dry soil) (DOC 258 kb)
Table S4
PCDD/F concentrations along the altitude profiles (pg congener g−1 dry soil) (DOC 236 kb)
Table S5
PCB concentrations at the Bavarian forest sampling sites (pg congener g−1 dry soil) (DOC 200 kb)
Table S6
EROD REP values used to calculate EROD-derived TCDD equivalents (EROD-EQ) and their corresponding WHO TEF values (DOC 182 kb)
Table S7
Ratios (R) between EROD and analytical and bioanalytical equivalents (DOC 317 kb)
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Levy, W., Henkelmann, B., Bernhöft, S. et al. Persistent aryl hydrocarbon receptor inducers increase with altitude, and estrogen-like disrupters are low in soils of the Alps. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18, 99–110 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-010-0361-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-010-0361-8