Estrogenicity and cytotoxicity of sediments and water from the drinkwater source-basin of Montevideo city, Uruguay

Authors

  • Luciana Griffero Universidad de la República
  • Giselle Gomes
  • Mauro Berazategui
  • Claudia Fosalba
  • Franco Teixeira de Mello
  • Carlos Rezende
  • Daniele Bila
  • Javier Gacía-Alonso

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5132/eec.2018.01.02

Abstract

Frequently new pollutants are released into the environment, demanding the employment of generic methods to detect toxic responses. In vitro bioassays such as the yeast estrogenicity screening (YES) allow detecting estrogenic and citotoxic compounds avoiding the employment of invasive methods. We determined the cytotoxicity and estrogenic activity in sediments of the Santa Lucia River Basin (Uruguay) using YES assay and the association with land uses and parameters of water quality and sediment. Water quality parameters confirm the eutrophication process of the Santa Lucía River, which was mainly reflected by high levels of TP and ammonium. High values of estrogenic activity in sediments (E2-EQ 8.49 ng g-1 of sediment) were found mainly in urbanized and cultivated areas. However, estrogenicity and cytotoxicity also was found in sites associated with other land uses such as rangelands. These data provide evidence that Santa Lucía River basin contains a variety of chemicals (including estrogenic and toxic chemicals of unknown and potentially diverse sources) that should be investigated further.YES assay proved to be a useful tool for characterizing estrogenic responses, and due to the human and ecological health importance, we suggest the employment of these kinds of bioassays as tools for environmental monitoring of EDCs substances.

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Published

29-06-2018

How to Cite

Griffero, L., Gomes, G., Berazategui, M., Fosalba, C., Teixeira de Mello, F., Rezende, C., Bila, D., & Gacía-Alonso, J. (2018). Estrogenicity and cytotoxicity of sediments and water from the drinkwater source-basin of Montevideo city, Uruguay. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Contamination, 13(1), 15–22. https://doi.org/10.5132/eec.2018.01.02

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Original Articles