Dissolved and particulate micropollutant mixtures in surface waters: in vitro and chemical assessment in Rio de Janeiro versus global trends
Many micropollutants occur in aquatic environments due to anthropogenic activities leading to environmental risks to ecosystems. However, their combined effects remain underexplored, particularly in developing countries. A panel of in vitro bioassays indicative of xenobiotic metabolism (AhR, PPARγ a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Environment International |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003290 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849423014464061440 |
|---|---|
| author | Allan dos Santos Argolo Beate I. Escher Georg Braun Maria König John P. Vanden Heuvel Daniele Maia Bila |
| author_facet | Allan dos Santos Argolo Beate I. Escher Georg Braun Maria König John P. Vanden Heuvel Daniele Maia Bila |
| author_sort | Allan dos Santos Argolo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many micropollutants occur in aquatic environments due to anthropogenic activities leading to environmental risks to ecosystems. However, their combined effects remain underexplored, particularly in developing countries. A panel of in vitro bioassays indicative of xenobiotic metabolism (AhR, PPARγ and PXR), estrogenic activity via estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) activation, glucocorticogenic activity (GR), developmental neurotoxicity (SH-SY5Y), oxidative stress response (AREc32), mitochondrial membrane potential inhibition and cytotoxicity was used to investigate water quality in the Guandu River basin, a major source water catchment area in Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil. The contribution of dissolved and suspended particulate matter (SPM) phases was considered, and the environmental relevance of effects was assessed against effect-based trigger (EBT) values in dry and wet seasons. Increased ERα activity was the most concerning endpoint and primary risk driver. SPM contributed more to cytotoxicity than to specific effects. Seasonal influences such as changing climate and hydrological conditions only had a minor role in explaining variation in the main river. In total, 269 chemicals were detected with target analysis, mostly pharmaceuticals and pesticides, but they explained only up to 1% of measured effects in AhR, PPARγ, SH-SY5Y and AREc32 assays. 1,2-Benzisothiazolinone, Mebendazole, Diuron, Benzothiazole, Diclofenac and 2-Benzothiazolesulfonic acid were identified as relevant toxicity drivers for neurotoxicity, xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress response. Attention is drawn to the pollution level in the investigated waters from a tropical developing country, which has similar water pollution levels as observed worldwide. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-61b34c2b3bcb45c5a98d290e8da551c3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj-art-61b34c2b3bcb45c5a98d290e8da551c32025-08-20T03:30:49ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-07-0120110957810.1016/j.envint.2025.109578Dissolved and particulate micropollutant mixtures in surface waters: in vitro and chemical assessment in Rio de Janeiro versus global trendsAllan dos Santos Argolo0Beate I. Escher1Georg Braun2Maria König3John P. Vanden Heuvel4Daniele Maia Bila5Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Cell Toxicology, UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany; Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany; Corresponding author at: Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Cell Toxicology, UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, GermanyINDIGO Biosciences, Inc., State College, PA 16801, USA; Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USADepartment of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilMany micropollutants occur in aquatic environments due to anthropogenic activities leading to environmental risks to ecosystems. However, their combined effects remain underexplored, particularly in developing countries. A panel of in vitro bioassays indicative of xenobiotic metabolism (AhR, PPARγ and PXR), estrogenic activity via estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) activation, glucocorticogenic activity (GR), developmental neurotoxicity (SH-SY5Y), oxidative stress response (AREc32), mitochondrial membrane potential inhibition and cytotoxicity was used to investigate water quality in the Guandu River basin, a major source water catchment area in Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil. The contribution of dissolved and suspended particulate matter (SPM) phases was considered, and the environmental relevance of effects was assessed against effect-based trigger (EBT) values in dry and wet seasons. Increased ERα activity was the most concerning endpoint and primary risk driver. SPM contributed more to cytotoxicity than to specific effects. Seasonal influences such as changing climate and hydrological conditions only had a minor role in explaining variation in the main river. In total, 269 chemicals were detected with target analysis, mostly pharmaceuticals and pesticides, but they explained only up to 1% of measured effects in AhR, PPARγ, SH-SY5Y and AREc32 assays. 1,2-Benzisothiazolinone, Mebendazole, Diuron, Benzothiazole, Diclofenac and 2-Benzothiazolesulfonic acid were identified as relevant toxicity drivers for neurotoxicity, xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress response. Attention is drawn to the pollution level in the investigated waters from a tropical developing country, which has similar water pollution levels as observed worldwide.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003290Emerging contaminantsBioanalytical toolsEffect-based methodsMixture toxicitySurface waterSuspended particulate matter |
| spellingShingle | Allan dos Santos Argolo Beate I. Escher Georg Braun Maria König John P. Vanden Heuvel Daniele Maia Bila Dissolved and particulate micropollutant mixtures in surface waters: in vitro and chemical assessment in Rio de Janeiro versus global trends Environment International Emerging contaminants Bioanalytical tools Effect-based methods Mixture toxicity Surface water Suspended particulate matter |
| title | Dissolved and particulate micropollutant mixtures in surface waters: in vitro and chemical assessment in Rio de Janeiro versus global trends |
| title_full | Dissolved and particulate micropollutant mixtures in surface waters: in vitro and chemical assessment in Rio de Janeiro versus global trends |
| title_fullStr | Dissolved and particulate micropollutant mixtures in surface waters: in vitro and chemical assessment in Rio de Janeiro versus global trends |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dissolved and particulate micropollutant mixtures in surface waters: in vitro and chemical assessment in Rio de Janeiro versus global trends |
| title_short | Dissolved and particulate micropollutant mixtures in surface waters: in vitro and chemical assessment in Rio de Janeiro versus global trends |
| title_sort | dissolved and particulate micropollutant mixtures in surface waters in vitro and chemical assessment in rio de janeiro versus global trends |
| topic | Emerging contaminants Bioanalytical tools Effect-based methods Mixture toxicity Surface water Suspended particulate matter |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003290 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT allandossantosargolo dissolvedandparticulatemicropollutantmixturesinsurfacewatersinvitroandchemicalassessmentinriodejaneiroversusglobaltrends AT beateiescher dissolvedandparticulatemicropollutantmixturesinsurfacewatersinvitroandchemicalassessmentinriodejaneiroversusglobaltrends AT georgbraun dissolvedandparticulatemicropollutantmixturesinsurfacewatersinvitroandchemicalassessmentinriodejaneiroversusglobaltrends AT mariakonig dissolvedandparticulatemicropollutantmixturesinsurfacewatersinvitroandchemicalassessmentinriodejaneiroversusglobaltrends AT johnpvandenheuvel dissolvedandparticulatemicropollutantmixturesinsurfacewatersinvitroandchemicalassessmentinriodejaneiroversusglobaltrends AT danielemaiabila dissolvedandparticulatemicropollutantmixturesinsurfacewatersinvitroandchemicalassessmentinriodejaneiroversusglobaltrends |