Fate of Ah-receptor agonists in organic household waste during anaerobic degradation—estimation of levels using EROD induction in organ cultures of chick embryo livers

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 297; no. 1; pp. 105 - 108
• Main Authors: Engwall, M, Schnürer, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 07.10.2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD); Animals; Applied sciences; Bacteria, Anaerobic - physiology; Bioassay; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Assay - methods; Biological treatment of sewage sludges and wastes; Biotechnology; Chick Embryo; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 - biosynthesis; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 - pharmacology; Degradation; Dioxin; Dioxins - analysis; Dioxins - pharmacology; Enviromental Science; Environment and pollution; Enzyme Induction; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Household Products; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Liver - enzymology; Miljövetenskap; Organ Culture Techniques; Pollution; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon - physiology; Sludge; Temperature; Urban and domestic wastes; Waste; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Wastes; Degradation; Bioassay; Sludge; Waste; Dioxin; 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD); Biodegradation; Enzyme inducer; Agonist; Pollutant behavior; Toxicity; Waste treatment; Liver; Thermophily; Organic wastes; Endocrine disruptor; Anaerobic digestion; Persistent organic pollutant; Ah receptor; Embryo culture; Mesophily; Biological treatment; Domestic refuse
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/S0048-9697(02)00091-8

The fate of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD)-inducing compounds in source-separated organic household waste subject to anaerobic degradation (i.e. mesophilic/thermophilic anaerobic treatment) was investigated using organ cultures of embryonic chicken livers from fertilised hen eggs. This bioassay reflects the combined effect of all EROD-inducing, possibly dioxin-like compounds in a sample, including chemicals that are seldom or never analysed. All samples tested induced EROD in the bioassay, indicating the presence of dioxin-like compounds. In the anaerobic processes, the amounts of acid-resistant EROD-inducing compounds coming out of the reactors were considerably higher than the incoming amounts, especially for the low-temperature (mesophilic) process. This apparent production of EROD-inducing compounds may be due to de novo synthesis or to an increase in the EROD-inducing potency of the compounds in the material.