Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1002/etc.4609
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Effect‐directed analysis of progestogens and glucocorticoids at trace concentrations in river water
Author Hashmi, M.A.K.; Krauss, M. ORCID logo ; Escher, B.I.; Teodorovic, I.; Brack, W.
Source Titel Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Year 2020
Department WANA; ZELLTOX
Volume 39
Issue 1
Page From 189
Page To 199
Language englisch
Supplements https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1002%2Fetc.4609&file=etc4609-sup-0001-Supporting_information.docx
Keywords Bioassay‐directed fractionation; endocrine disrupting compounds; water quality; analytical chemistry; liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry; megestrol acetate
Abstract Effect‐based monitoring is increasingly applied to detect and – in conjunction with chemical analysis ‐ to identify endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the environment. While this approach of effect‐directed analysis has been successfully demonstrated for estrogenicity and androgenicity, data on progestogens and glucocorticoids driving endocrine disruption are quite limited. In this study, progestogenic and glucocorticoid activities were investigated in the Danube river water receiving untreated wastewater from Novi Sad, Serbia. After a two‐step fractionation all fractions were tested with reporter gene bioassays for agonistic and antagonistic hormonal responses at progestogenic and glucocorticoid hormone receptors as well as target and non‐target analytical screening of active fractions by liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry (LC‐HRMS). Due to masking by cytotoxic mixture components, the effects could not be detected in the raw water extract but were unraveled only after fractionation. Target chemical screening of the fraction that was active in the progesterone receptor (PR)‐assay revealed progesterone and megestrol acetate as predominant drivers of PR‐mediated activity along with medroxyprogesterone, dihydrotestosterone, androsterone and epiandrosterone. Hydrocortisone was detected at sub‐ng/L concentration in the active fraction in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR)‐ assay but could not explain a significant fraction of the observed GR activity. The present study indicates that effect‐based monitoring is a powerful tool to detect EDCs in the aquatic environment but fractionation may be required to avoid masking effects of mixture components. Future EDA studies are required to better understand the occurrence of EDCs and masking compounds in different lipophilicity windows in order to finally reduce fractionation requirements for monitoring to a smart clean‐up.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=22334
Hashmi, M.A.K., Krauss, M., Escher, B.I., Teodorovic, I., Brack, W. (2020):
Effect‐directed analysis of progestogens and glucocorticoids at trace concentrations in river water
Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 39 (1), 189 - 199 10.1002/etc.4609