Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1021/es3028378
Title (Primary) Metabolization of the bacteriostatic agent triclosan in edible plants and its consequences for plant uptake assessment
Author Macherius, A.; Eggen, T.; Lorenz, W.; Moeder, M.; Ondruschka, J.; Reemtsma, T.
Source Titel Environmental Science & Technology
Year 2012
Department ANA
Volume 46
Issue 19
Page From 10797
Page To 10804
Language englisch
Abstract Persistent environmental contaminants may enter agricultural fields via the application of sewage sludge, by irrigation with treated municipal wastewater or by manuring. It has been shown that such contaminants can be incorporated into crop plants. The metabolism of the bacteriostatic agents triclocarban, triclosan, and its transformation product methyl triclosan was investigated after their uptake into carrot cell cultures. A fast metabolization of triclosan was observed and eight so far unknown phase II metabolites, conjugates with saccharides, disaccharides, malonic acid, and sulfate, were identified by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Triclocarban and methyl triclosan lack a phenolic group and remained unaltered in the cell cultures. Phase I metabolization was not observed for any of the compounds. All eight triclosan conjugates identified in the cell cultures were also detected in extracts of intact carrot plants cultivated on triclosan contaminated soils. Their total amount in the plants was assessed to exceed the amount of the triclosan itself by a factor of 5. This study shows that a disregard of conjugates in studies on plant uptake of environmental contaminants may severely underestimates the extent of uptake into plants and, eventually, the potential human exposure to contaminants via food of plant origin.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=12915
Macherius, A., Eggen, T., Lorenz, W., Moeder, M., Ondruschka, J., Reemtsma, T. (2012):
Metabolization of the bacteriostatic agent triclosan in edible plants and its consequences for plant uptake assessment
Environ. Sci. Technol. 46 (19), 10797 - 10804 10.1021/es3028378