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Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering

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ISSN 2095-221X(Online)

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Front.Environ.Sci.Eng.    0, Vol. Issue () : 433-440    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0594-0
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Evaluation of endocrine disruption and dioxin-like effects of organic extracts from sewage sludge in autumn in Beijing, China
LIU Cao1,2,XU Yiping,MA Mei,HUANG Bingbin2,WU Jingdong2,MENG Qingyi2,WANG Zijian1,(),GEARHEART Robert Alan3
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Beijing Water Science and Technology Institute, Beijing 100048, China
Environmental Engineering Department, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA95521, USA
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Abstract

Study on effective disposal and utilization of sewage sludge has recently been the target of growing interest in China. However, potential risks are associated with the use of sludge due to its contamination with toxic organics, heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, a screening assessment was conducted on sewage sludge samples collected from 17 different sewage treatment plants in Beijing, based on a batch of in vitro bioassays, including a set of recombinant gene yeast assays for endocrine disruption, and an ethoxy resorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) assay using H4IIE cells for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ah-R) agonistic activities. Our results suggested that moderate levels of estrogen receptor agonistic activities (0.9 ng E2·g-1 to 6.8 ng E2·g-1, dw), but relative higher androgen receptor antagonistic activities (nd to 45%), progestin receptor antagonistic activities (nd to 80%) and Ah-R agonistic activities (1390 to 6740 pg 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)·g-1, dw) were found in sewage sludge samples. However, there were no significant correlations between the toxic effects of sewage sludge and the sewage treatment processes. In addition, the 17β-estradiol (E2) equivalent quantity (EEQ) level of the sewage sludge was increased after the composting treatment, whereas the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) level of sewage sludge composted was much lower than that of sewage sludge.
Keywords sewage sludge      in vitro bioassay      endocrine disruption      dioxin-like effect     
Corresponding Author(s): WANG Zijian   
Issue Date: 19 May 2014
 Cite this article:   
LIU Cao,XU Yiping,MA Mei, et al. Evaluation of endocrine disruption and dioxin-like effects of organic extracts from sewage sludge in autumn in Beijing, China[J]. Front.Environ.Sci.Eng., 0, (): 433-440.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-013-0594-0
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y0/V/I/433
Fig.1  Locations of sewage sludge sampling sites in Beijing

S1- Fangzhuang, S2- Jiuxianqiao, S3- Wujiacun, S4- Qinghe, S5- Lugouqiao, S6- Yanqing, S7- Miyun, S8- Changping, S9- Changping composted, S10- Huairou, S11- Shunyi, S12- Pinggu, S13- Huangcun, S14- Panggezhuang, S15- Yizhuang, S16- Liangxiang, S17- Mentougou

pathway of endocrine disruptionin vitro bioassayreferencematerialendpoint
estrogen disruptionrecombinant ER gene two-hybrid yeast17β-estradiolER agonistic activity
androgen disruptionrecombinant AR gene two-hybrid yeastdihydrotestoster-oneAR agonistic activity
flutamideAR antagonistic activity
progestin-based endocrine disruptionrecombinant PR gene yeastprogesteronePR agonistic activity
mifepristonePR antagonistic activity
Tab.1  
sewage sludgesampleagonistic activityrate of antagonistic activity suppression
ARPRARPR
Fangzhuang<dl<dl26%±8%58%±7%
Jiuxianqiao<dl<dl32%±6%79%±4%
Wujiacun<dl<dl31%±6%73%±7%
Qinghe<dl<dl<dl43%±8%
Lugouqiao<dl<dl45%±3%80%±7%
Yanqing<dl<dl29%±1%<dl
Miyun<dl<dl18%±2%61%±4%
Changping<dl<dl34%±4%67%±3%
Changping Composted<dl<dl<dl<dl
Huairou<dl<dl12%±6%60%±1%
Shunyi<dl<dl18%±2%59%±7%
Pinggu<dl<dl<dl32%±5%
Huangcun<dl<dl40%±4%78%±2%
Panggezhuang<dl<dl41%±3%<dl
Yizhuang<dl<dl33%±4%46%±8%
Liangxiang<dl<dl31%±6%20%±7%
Mentougou<dl<dl28%±7%46%±11%
Tab.2  
Fig.2  Estrogen receptor agonistic activities of sewage sludge samples in Beijing (expressed as EEQ with the method detection limit of 0.9 ng E2·g-1)

S1- Fangzhuang, S2- Jiuxianqiao, S3- Wujiacun, S4- Qinghe, S5- Lugouqiao, S6- Yanqing, S7- Miyun, S8- Changping, S9- Changping composted, S10- Huairou, S11- Shunyi, S12- Pinggu, S13- Huangcun, S14- Panggezhuang, S15- Yizhuang, S16- Liangxiang, S17- Mentougou

Fig.3  Fig. 3 Detection results of dioxin-like effects of sewage sludge samples in Beijing

S1- Fangzhuang, S2- Jiuxianqiao, S3- Wujiacun, S4- Qinghe, S5- Lugouqiao, S6- Yanqing, S7- Miyun, S8- Changping, S9- Changping composted, S10- Huairou, S11- Shunyi, S12- Pinggu, S13- Huangcun, S14- Panggezhuang, S15- Yizhuang, S16- Liangxiang, S17- Mentougou

sampling siteER agonistic activity (EEQ)/(ng E2·g-1)
sludge from STPs (The Netherlands) [25]<dl–3.6
sludge from a STP (Germany) [26]0.3–3.7
sludge from STPs (Korea) [27]3–444
soils from reclaimed water irrigated plots (Tunisia) [28]<dl
sediments of Wenyuhe River in Beijing (China) [29]0.8–19.8
sediments of Daguhe River (China) [30]37–95
soils in Beijing and Tianjin (China) [31]<dl–0.14
sewage sludge in Beijing (current study)0.9–6.8
Tab.3  
sampling sitesAh-R agonistic activity (TEQ)/(pg TCDD·g-1)
sewage sludge (UK) [38]20–220
sewage sludge (Australia) [39]1200–15300
sewage sludge in Catalonia (Spain) [40]10–30
soils from reclaimed water irrigated plots (Tunisia) [28]26600–67900
sediments of Wenyuhe River in Beijing (China) [29]10–340
sediments of Daguhe River (China) [41]1200–13900
sewage sludge in Beijing (current study)1390–6740
Tab.4  
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