Abstract:
Objective To study the estrogenic effects of organic extracts from raw water of a waterworks.
Methods The estrogenic effects of organic compounds which were extracted from raw water by solid phase extraction method were detected by MCF-7 cell proliferation assay, luciferase reporter gene assay and rodent uterotrophic bioassay. The exposure doses were equivalent to making organic extractions from 10, 100, 1000mL raw water condensed into 1 mL ethanol in vivo, and from 2, 5, 10, 25 mL cindensed into 1 mL ethanol in vivo.
Results Compared with the negative control group, the significant cell proliferation effect was detected in the group of 1000mL water sample, corresponding proliferation rate was(130.85& #177;13.68)%. The luciferase activity in 100 mL water sample group increased significantly, relative fluorescence intensity was (207.67& #177;12.40)%. Uterotrophic bioassay showed the relative weight of uterus and luminal contents of the organic extracts treated groups slightly increased compared with that of the vehicle control group, but the differences were not so significant.
Conclusion In vitro assays showed that organic extracts from this raw water contained estrogen-like mixture, while in vivo assay didn't show definite estrogenic effects.