Journal Article

In vitro bioanalytical assessment of toxicity of wetland samples from Spanish Mediterranean coastline

Bijlsma Lubertus, Oskarsson Agneta, Lundqvist Johan, Mandava Geeta, Sancho, Juan Vicente, Celma Alberto

2021

Overview

BackgroundFresh water bodies represent less than 1% of overall amount of water on earth and ensuring their quality and sustainability is pivotal. Although several campaigns have been performed to monitor the occurrence of micropollutants by means of chemical analysis, this might not cover the whole set of chemicals present in the sample nor the potential toxic effects of mixtures of natural and anthropogenic chemicals. In this sense, by selecting relevant toxicity endpoints when performing in vitro bioanalysis, effect-based methodologies can be of help to perform a comprehensive assessment of water quality and reveal biological activities relevant to adverse health effects. However, no prior bioanalytical study was performed in wetland water samples from the Spanish Mediterranean coastline.MethodsEleven samples from relevant water bodies from the Spanish Mediterranean coastline were collected to monitor water quality on 8 toxicity endpoints. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), androgenicity (AR+ and AR−), estrogenicity (ER+ and ER−), oxidative stress response (Nrf2) and vitamin D receptor (VDR+ and VDR−) reporter gene assays were evaluated.ResultsAhR was the reporter gene assay showing a more frequent response over the set of samples (activated by 9 out of 11 samples), with TCDD-eq in the range 7.7–22.2 pM. For AR, ER and VDR assays sporadic activations were observed. Moreover, no activity was observed on the Nrf2 reporter gene assay. Wastewater and street runaway streams from Valencia could be responsible for enhanced activities in one of the water inputs in the Natural Park ‘L’Albufera’.ConclusionsWater quality of relevant wetlands from the Spanish Mediterranean coastline has been evaluated. The utilization of a panel of 5 different bioassays to cover for different toxicity endpoints has demonstrated to be a good tool to assess water quality.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Anthropogenic factors / Assaying / Bioassays / Chemical analysis / Coasts / Evaluation / Fresh water / Health risks / In vitro methods and tests / Moisture content / NRF2 protein / Oxidative stress / Quality assessment / Receptors / Reporter gene / TCDD / Toxicity / Vitamin D / Vitamin D receptors / Wastewater / Water analysis / Water content / Water monitoring / Water quality / Water quality assessments / Water quality management / Water sampling / Wetlands