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3A - Biomarker/Biomonitoring (TUP/159) Biomonitoring of Dioxins and Dioxin-Like Compounds in Sediments from UK Estuaries. Hurst, Mark1, Balaam, Jan1, Chan-Man, Yin1, Thomas, Kevin1, Thain, John1, 1 CEFAS, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK ABSTRACT- In the past few decades there has been growing environmental concern about the group of compounds called dioxins, and other compounds that have dioxin-like properties. The major concern being the effects of these toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative compounds, upon wildlife and human health. Sediments are a sink for this group of compounds and subsequently are a source of potential exposure of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds, to aquatic organisms. This study involves the biomonitoring of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in UK estuarine sediment samples, using a receptor-reporter gene bioassay. The Dioxin Responsive-Chemically Activated LUminescence eXpression (DR-CALUX) assay measures the overall activity of compounds with a dioxin-like mode of action, as an alternative to targeted chemical analyses. The advantage of such an approach is that it provides an overall integration, of the potency, of all dioxin-like compounds within the sample. A spatial survey of 7 UK estuaries was conducted, along with an offshore survey as a comparison. Sediment samples were extracted and then screened using the DR-CALUX assay. The data produced from these biomonitoring surveys is presented and discussed. Key words: Biomonitoring, Dioxins, CALUX, Sediments |
