Analysis of trace organic contaminants in sediment, pore water, and water samples from Onsan Bay, Korea: Instrumental analysis and in vitro gene expression assay

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants and alkylphenols (APs) were determined in sediment and water samples from Onsan Bay, Korea, by using instrumental analysis and in vitro gene expression cell bioassay. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocabons (PAHs) were the predominant compounds in sediments with concentrations as great as 573 ng/g dry weight. The PAH concentrations were elevated in sediment from inland rivers that flow through Onsan City (mean: 116 ng/g dry wt) and discharge into Onsan Bay. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments ranged from <1.00 to 56.2 ng/g dry weight. Among different organochlorine (OC) pesticides analyzed (hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorocyclohexanes, chlordanes, and DDTs), DDT concentrations were the greatest, ranging from <0.01 to 7.58 ng/g dry weight. The spatial gradient of contaminant concentrations suggested that streams and rivers are the major sources of PCBs, PAHs, and APs to the bay. Maximum concentrations of nonylphenol, octylphenol, and bisphenol A in sediments were 860, 11, and 204 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Screening of Onsan Bay sediment samples for dioxinlike activity with the H4IIE-luc in vitro cell bioassay revealed that 17 of 22 samples contained significant dioxinlike activity. Further fractionation of sediment extracts indicated that mid-polar and more polar fractions were responsible for the significant dioxinlike activity. Based on a mass balance analysis, PAHs apparently accounted for only a small portion of dioxinlike responses elicited by sediment extracts. Only one raw extract of sediment elicited a significant estrogenic response by MVLN cells. The combination of instrumental analysis and in vitro bioassay was useful to assess sediment quality and characterize the causative agents or potential toxic compounds present.

Dioxin-like compounds in agricultural soils near e-waste recycling sites from Taizhou area, China: Chemical and bioanalytical characterization

“…Some investigators have found that the raw extracts from soil or sediments were highly potent in inducing EROD activity; however, in previous studies mass balance was often not reported, or attempts to attribute the potency to known AhR agonists had usually failed (Kannan et al, 2000;Koh et al, 2002). In the present work, mass balance analysis suggested that the chemical composition identified by chemical analytical methods could adequately account for the magnitude of response observed in the EROD bioassay.…”

Identification of Juvenile Hormone-Active Alkylphenols in the LobsterHomarus americanusand in Marine Sediments

“…Furthermore, the plastic-particle waste that is prevalent in the oceans can also directly leach BPA into the environment (Sajiki and Yonekubo, 2003). BPA contamination in sediments is widespread: for example, levels have been reported as 0.05 g/g dry weight in Ulsan Bay, Korea (Khim et al, 2001), in Onsan Bay, Korea; as 0.20 g/g dry weight (Koh et al, 2002); and as 0.19 g/g in Germany (Fromme et al, 2002). The four alkylphenols we have identified in lobsters and marine sediments are used together in antioxidant blend formulations for manufacturing rubber and plastic polymers.…”

Horizontal and Vertical Distribution of Estrogenic Activities in Sediments and Waters from Tokyo Bay, Japan

“…They demonstrate the total estrogenic activity of environmental samples, regardless of which compounds are responsible for the activity. The results of these studies indicate that estrogenic activity varies widely among sampling sites (Koh et al 2002).…”

“…In recent years, estrogenic activity in wastewater (Kçrner et al 2001;Kirk et al 2002), river water (Fenet et al 2003), seawater (Koh et al 2002), and sediment (Kannan et al 2000;Koh et al 2002;Fenet et al 2003) has been analyzed by in vitro bioassays. They demonstrate the total estrogenic activity of environmental samples, regardless of which compounds are responsible for the activity.…”