PARENT SESSION
MP9 - Solar Radiation Influence on Aquatic Toxicity Processes
Chair: Oris, Jim¹, ¹ Miami University, Oxford, OH
Co-chair: Lavvorn, Marj², ²
2:10 PM to 5:30 PM - Monday, 18 November 2002
Room Ballroom E

(318) Estrogenicity and Environmental Existence of Hydroxy-PAHs.

Kurihara, Ryo^*,1, Shiraishi, Fujio², Tanaka, Noriho³, Hashimoto, Shinya¹, ¹ University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan² National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan³ Hadano Research Institute, Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan

ABSTRACT- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants that are present in petroleum products and form as by-products of the incomplete combustion of organic compounds. In many cases, when they are exposed to light they can form photochemical reaction products, such as hydroxy-PAHs, that have greater toxicity than the parent compounds. For this reason it is important that we study the environmental existence and toxicity of PAHs and their derivatives. We focused on anthracene, which is known to increase in toxicity through photochemical reaction. We measured the estrogenicity of anthracene and its derivatives by using the yeast two-hybrid system. The strongest estrogenicity observed was about 7,000 times less than that of 17-estradiol. We also attempted to detect anthracene-derived compounds (hydroxy-PAHs) in sediment samples from Tokyo Bay, Japan. To identify and quantify these hydroxy-PAHs and their parent compounds in the environment, we extracted samples ultrasonically and isolated the organic phase by silica gel column chromatography. Analysis was done by using GC-MS. The concentrations of hydroxy-PAHs in the Tokyo Bay samples were lower than those of their parent PAHs. Hydroxy-PAHs in the environment may be formed by photochemical reactions or by biodegradation from PAHs, or they may be discharged by industrial processes.

Key words: Hydroxy-PAH, Photochemical reaction, Estrogenicity, Anthracene