Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1021/acs.est.6b05468
Title (Primary) Mutagenicity in surface waters: synergistic effects of carboline alkaloids and aromatic amines
Author Muz, M.; Krauss, M. ORCID logo ; Kutsarova, S.; Schulze, T. ORCID logo ; Brack, W.
Source Titel Environmental Science & Technology
Year 2017
Department WANA
Volume 51
Issue 3
Page From 1830
Page To 1839
Language englisch
UFZ wide themes RU2;
Abstract Since decades mutagenicity has been observed in many surface waters with a possible link to the presence of aromatic amines. River Rhine is a well-known example of this phenomenon but responsible compound(s) are still unknown. To identify the mutagenic compounds, we applied effect-directed analysis (EDA) utilizing novel analytical and biological approaches to a water sample extract from the lower Rhine. We could identify 21 environmental contaminants including two weakly mutagenic aromatic amines, and the known alkaloid co-mutagen norharman along with two related β-carboline alkaloids, carboline and 5-carboline, which were reported the first time in surface waters. Results of mixture tests showed a strong synergism of the identified aromatic amines not only with norharman, but also with carboline and 5-carboline. Additionally, other nitrogen-containing compounds also contributed to the mutagenicity when aromatic amines were present. Thus, co-mutagenicity of β-carboline alkaloids with aromatic amines is shown to occur in surface waters. These results strongly suggest that surface water mutagenicity is highly complex and driven by synergistic mechanisms of a complex compound mixture (of which many are yet unidentified) rather than by single compounds. Therefore, mixture effects should be considered not only from mutagens alone, but also including possible co-mutagens and non-mutagenic compounds.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=18285
Muz, M., Krauss, M., Kutsarova, S., Schulze, T., Brack, W. (2017):
Mutagenicity in surface waters: synergistic effects of carboline alkaloids and aromatic amines
Environ. Sci. Technol. 51 (3), 1830 - 1839 10.1021/acs.est.6b05468