benzofurans and 3-4-5-3--4--5--hexachlorobiphenyl

The Biobio River basin, located in central Chile, is one of the most important freshwater resources for a population of 1 million inhabitants. The river receives discharges of pulp mills, sewage treatment plants and there is a diffuse input of materials coming from the drainage basin. Previous studies reported high levels of etoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) induction in fish from the lower stretch of the river, mainly due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exposure. The present study investigates polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-furans (PCDFs) levels as well as EROD induction in fish livers from Central Chile's Biobio River. Dioxin and furan levels in fish livers are reported for the first time in three areas of the Basin. In all samples the highest concentrations were found for the octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) and PCDD/F TEQ concentrations ranged from 2.83 to 6.33 ppt (wet weight). The results indicate a clear induction of EROD activity in different fish species as the river mouth is approached, although this induction is not clearly related with dioxin and furan levels found in the fish livers. Our results clearly show that other pollutants might be acting as EROD inductors in the Biobio Basin.

Topics: Animals; Benzofurans; Chile; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; Environmental Monitoring; Fishes; Liver; Polychlorinated Biphenyls; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; Rivers; Water Pollutants, Chemical

Hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH)-inducing potency of toxic polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons such as polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), 3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was studied in four inbred strains of mice with different phenotypes of Ah locus, i.e., AHH-responsive strains: C57BL/6N and AKR/Ms Qdj, and AHH-nonresponsive strains: DBA/2Cr Slc and Qdj; DDD. Eight individual PCDF isomers or TCDD were administered IP in doses of 30 micrograms/kg; HCB was given in a dose of 120 micrograms/kg. In AHH-nonresponsive strains of mice, only TCDD significantly induced hepatic AHH activity, while in AHH-responsive strains, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran(2,3,7,8-TCDF), 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran(1,2,3,7,8-PCDF), 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran(2,3,4,7,8-PCDF), and TCDD significantly enhanced the enzyme activity, and the induced AHH activities with the three PCDF isomers were about 30-65% of those of TCDD. These results indicate that AHH responsiveness in mice segregates with the induction of AHH activity by PCDF isomers and may also segregate with the toxic potency of the isomers; i.e., toxic potencies of 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PCDF, and 2,3,4,7,8-PCDF in AHH-responsive strains of mice may be much greater than those in AHH-nonresponsive strains of mice. Taking into account both the potent AHH inducibility and the high bioaccumulation of 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PCDF, and 2,3,4,7,8-PCDF, these three PCDF isomers should be given greater attention with regard to environmental contamination.

Topics: Animals; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; Benzofurans; Dioxins; Enzyme Induction; Female; Liver; Male; Methylcholanthrene; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Polychlorinated Biphenyls; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; Polymers; Species Specificity

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase(AHH)-inducing potency of toxic polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons such as polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) isomers, 3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was investigated in human lymphoblastoid cell lines with different AHH inducibility for 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) obtained from healthy subjects. Each of the cell lines was treated with eight individual PCDF isomers, TCDD, and HCB at doses of 1.9-15 ng/ml of culture medium, 1.9-7.5 ng/ml and 95 ng/ml, respectively. Lymphoblastoid cell lines were arbitrarily classified into three groups based on their AHH inducibilities with 3-MC (2.5 microM); low (3-MC/control = I less than 3), middle (3 less than or equal to I less than 6) and high (I greater than or equal to 6). Degrees of the enzyme inducibilities of the organochlorine compounds proportionally increased with those for 3-MC. AHH inducibilities with 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran(2,3,4,7,8-PCDF), 1,2,3,4,6,7-hexachlorodibenzofuran(1,2,3,4,6,7-HCDF) and 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran(1,2,3,4,7,8-HCDF) were comparable to those of TCDD at doses of 7.5 ng/ml, and about twice as high as those of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF), at the same dose, HCB, at a dose of 95 ng/ml, did not induce enzyme activity. The experimental evidence indicated that AHH inducibility by the organochlorine compounds reflected the genetic susceptibility of the cells to the phenomenon of induction, and PCDF isomers found at relatively high concentrations in tissues of mammals exerted the highest values of AHH induction.

Topics: Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; Benzofurans; Cell Line; Dioxins; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Induction; Female; Genetic Variation; Humans; Kinetics; Lymphocytes; Male; Polychlorinated Biphenyls; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; Polymers