GH005-07
The bioanalytical screening of deleterious organic compounds on volcanic ash: a pilot study using the AhR-CALUX assay
Friday, 11 December 2020: 07:18
Virtual
Ines Tomasek1,2, David E Damby3, Emmanouil N Romanias4, Claire J. Horwell5, Peter Baxter6, Ulrich Kueppers7, Daniele Andronico8, Imke Boonen9, Matthieu Kervyn10, Philippe Claeys9, Michael S. Denison11 and Marc Elskens9, (1)Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemistry (AMGC), Ixelles, Belgium, (2)Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Geography (FARD), Ixelles, Belgium, (3)USGS California Volcano Observatory, Moffett Field, CA, United States, (4)IMT Lille Douai, Sciences de l'Atmosphère et Génie de l'Environnement (SAGE), Douai, France, (5)Durham University, Department of Earth Sciences, Durham, United Kingdom, (6)University of Cambridge, Institute of Public Health, Cambridge, United Kingdom, (7)Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Munich, Germany, (8)Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Etna Observatory, Catania, Italy, (9)Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemistry (AMGC), Brussels, Belgium, (10)Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium, (11)University of California-Davis, Department of Environmental Toxicology, Davis, United States
Abstract:
Ash from volcanic eruptions may severely impact populations living near active volcanoes, but also more distal areas, and is a cause of continued health concern. During transport and deposition, ash is subjected to various physicochemical processes that may change its surface composition and bioreactivity. Ash particles can interact with anthropogenic pollution (
e.g., industrial and vehicle emissions) and, in this way, scavenge organic compounds such as dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans; PCDDs/Fs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The potential of ash to act as a carrier of organic compounds of toxicological concern to human health has been poorly researched.
In this pilot study, we used an in vitro bioanalytical approach to screen for the presence of deleterious organic compounds on surfaces of ash collected near five active volcanoes across the world (Etna, Kelud, Sakurajima, Fuego, Tungurahua). Extracts from ash were analysed using an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-responsive reporter-gene cell-based bioassay (Chemically Activated LUciferase gene eXpression (CALUX)). The findings showed the presence of significant levels of AhR-potent compounds in all analysed samples. The bioanalytical equivalent concentration (BEQ) of crude sample extracts ranged between 3 – 65 ng BaP BEQs/g ash. Dioxins (PCDD/Fs) were only detected in some of the samples in relatively low concentrations (0.2 – 0.4 pg TCDD BEQs/g ash); dl-PCBs were not detected in any sample extract. This preliminary study is the first to estimate the biological potency of AhR-active organic compounds in association with volcanic ash particles.
