Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.etap.2020.103401
Title (Primary) Estrogenic activity of surface waters using zebrafish- and human-based in vitro assays: the Danube as a case-study
Author Serra, H.; Brion, F.; Chardon, C.; Budzinski, H.; Schulze, T. ORCID logo ; Brack, W.; Aït-Aïssa, S.
Source Titel Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology
Year 2020
Department WANA
Volume 78
Page From art. 103401
Language englisch
Keywords in vitro bioassays; estrogenicity; waters; interspecies differences; complex mixtures
Abstract Most in vitro reporter gene assays used to assess estrogenic contamination are based on human estrogen receptor α (hERα) activation. However, fish bioassays can have distinct response to estrogenic chemicals and mixtures, questioning the relevance of human-based bioassays for assessing risk to this species. In this study, zebrafish liver cells stably expressing zebrafish ERβ2 (ZELHβ2) and human breast cancer cells expressing hERα (MELN) were used to quantify the estrogenic activity of 25 surface water samples of the Danube River, for which chemicals have been previously quantified. Most samples had a low estrogenic activity below 0.1 ng/L 17β-estradiol-equivalents that was more often detected by MELN cells, while ZELHβ2 response tend to be lower than predicted based on the chemicals identified. Nevertheless, both bioassays quantified well a higher estrogenic activity at two sites, which was confirmed in vivo using a transgenic zebrafish assay. The results are discussed considering the effect-based trigger values proposed for water quality monitoring.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=23104
Serra, H., Brion, F., Chardon, C., Budzinski, H., Schulze, T., Brack, W., Aït-Aïssa, S. (2020):
Estrogenic activity of surface waters using zebrafish- and human-based in vitro assays: the Danube as a case-study
Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 78 , art. 103401 10.1016/j.etap.2020.103401