SEDIMENT TOXICITY EVALUATION USING MULTIPLE IN VITRO BIOASSAY APPROACH IN MASAN BAY, KOREA

Abstract

Analytical measurement of priority pollutants in marine ecosystems is critical but not sufficient to predict their biological impact. Acute toxicity end-points such as survival and mortality of an organism do not always reveal the toxic potential, as most of the contaminants occur at low concentrations. Alternatively, in vitro bioassays may be used to determine the integrated toxic potency of a complex mixture of microcontaminants in the environment at relatively sensitive concentration range. Extracts of 21 sediment samples from Masan Bay, Korea, used in an earlier chemical measurement, were screened for their ability to induce estrogen, - and dioxin -like gene expression using the E-Assay (+), DR-CALUX assay, respectively, and to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity using an in vitro AChE assay. Biological impact in the industry-rich inner bay is higher than outer bay. DDTs (0.65), coplanar PCBs (0.77), HCHs (0.64), PAHs (0.61) and APs (0.53) with good correlation to E-assay (+) are seen as environmental estrogens. The highest induction of DR-CALUX response was seen again at station M12 and 15 which received sewage effluents. PCDD/DFs gave the highest correlation (0.75). Interestingly, the M12 station at the sewage treatment outlet showed the highest activity. Among the targeted chemicals APs (0.66), PCBs (0.64), PAHs (0.61) and DDT (0.49) correlated well with the AChE bioassay. Spearman rank correlation onential, as most of the contaminants occur at low concentrations. Alternatively, in vitro bioassays may be used to determine the integrated toxic potency of a complex mixture of microcontaminants in the environment at relatively sensitive concentration range. Extracts of 21 sediment samples from Masan Bay, Korea, used in an earlier chemical measurement, were screened for their ability to induce estrogen, - and dioxin -like gene expression using the E-Assay (+), DR-CALUX assay, respectively, and to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity using an in vitro AChE assay. Biological impact in the industry-rich inner bay is higher than outer bay. DDTs (0.65), coplanar PCBs (0.77), HCHs (0.64), PAHs (0.61) and APs (0.53) with good correlation to E-assay (+) are seen as environmental estrogens. The highest induction of DR-CALUX response was seen again at station M12 and 15 which received sewage effluents. PCDD/DFs gave the highest correlation (0.75). Interestingly, the M12 station at the sewage treatment outlet showed the highest activity. Among the targeted chemicals APs (0.66), PCBs (0.64), PAHs (0.61) and DDT (0.49) correlated well with the AChE bioassay. Spearman rank correlation on