1 Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, 1, University Road, East District, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
2 National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Institute of Marine Biology, National Dong Hwa University, 2 Houwan Road, Checheng, Pingtung, 944, Taiwan
3 Graduate School of Science and Radiation Research Center, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-2 Gakuen-cho, Sakai, Osaka 599-8570, Japan
Cite this article: Chou, P.H., Lee, C.H., Ko, F.C., Lin, Y.J., Kawanishi, M., Yagi, T. and Li, I.C. (2015). Detection of Hormone-Like and Genotoxic Activities in Indoor Dust from Taiwan Using a Battery of in Vitro Bioassays.
Aerosol Air Qual. Res.
15: 1412-1421. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2015.06.0404
HIGHLIGHTS
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist activities were detected in Taiwan’s dust samples.
Dust samples also exhibited antiandrogenic and antithyroid hormonal activities.
Genotoxic potencies were mainly observed in indoor dust samples.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were minor contributors to AhR agonist activities.
Novel AhR agonist contaminants were found in indoor dust after HPLC fractionation.
ABSTRACT
Indoor dust serves as a potential sink for various synthetic chemicals used in our daily lives, while exposure to these anthropogenic contaminants via dust contact, ingestion, or inhalation may pose potential threats to human health. In this study, in vitro biological assays were used to investigate the endocrine disrupting activity and genotoxicity in dust samples collected from a university located in southern Taiwan. Contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor dust were also analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Our results showed that significant aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist, antiandrogenic, antithyroid hormonal, and genotoxic activities were found in dust samples. In particular, high AhR agonist activities were found in indoor dust collected from computer room and laboratory (16112 and 9686 ng benzo(a)pyrene equivalent/g dust dry weight), whereas AhR agonistic PAHs were responsible for only a small percentage of the bioassay-derived activities. Higher antiandrogenic and genotoxic activities were found in indoor dust from office and classroom, respectively, suggesting that contaminants varied in different indoor dust samples. After fractionating by high performance liquid chromatography, AhR agonist activities were detected in several fractions of indoor dust from computer room and laboratory, indicating the presence of unknown AhR agonist contaminants in these indoor dust samples. Further isolation and identification of novel AhR agonistic and antiandrogenic contaminants is necessary to protect the environment and human health.
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