Assessment of Androgenicity in Leachates from Swedish Landfills and Treatments for its Elimination

Abstract

An in vitro recombinant yeast strain, transfected with the human androgen receptor was used to assess androgenic hormone disrupting potencies in leachates from Swedish landfills. It was shown that components in extracts of these affected the androgenic receptor and promoted a response in the β-galactosidase marker system. Levels were within the range of those determined for domestic sewage effluents but lower than the highest levels found in an industrial effluent. These leachates finally enter receiving waters with or without wastewater treatment. Evidence was found for transformation during some of the wastewater treatments.

Keywords:

• Androgens
• Recombinant receptor tests
• Endocrine disrupters
• Solid waste
• Wastewater treatment

Acknowledgment

We thank Prof. John Sumpter, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK for the strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Financial support was given by the Swedish Association of Waste Management, Ragnar Sellberg's Foundation, and the Swedish Environmental Research Foundation.