Coal sediments; sediemnt biotests; in vitro bioassays; AhR; ER; endocrine disruption

Toxicity of compounds presented in sediment contaminated by waste coal has been examined in a set of experiments. Reproduction parameters of amphipod Gammarus fossarum and prosobranchian snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum were affected after laboratory exposures to contaminated coal sediments from Karviná mining area, northeastern Czech Republic. The sediment extract has elicited comparable effects on fecundity of P. antipodarum. High dioxin-like activity and no estrogen receptor mediated effects were determined in sediment extract using two in vitro bioassays with H4IIE.luc and MVLN cells. Our findings indicate that compounds of waste coal origin might evoke endocrine disruptive effects both in vitro and in vivo and they might represent chronic risks to wildlife and humans.

oxicity of compounds presented in sediment contaminated by waste coal has been examined in a set of experiments. Reproduction parameters of amphipod Gammarus fossarum and prosobranchian snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum were affected after laboratory exposures to contaminated coal sediments from Karviná mining area, northeastern Czech Republic. The sediment extract has elicited comparable effects on fecundity of P. antipodarum. High dioxin-like activity and no estrogen receptor mediated effects were determined in sediment extract using two in vitro bioassays with H4IIE.luc and MVLN cells. Our findings indicate that compounds of waste coal origin might evoke endocrine disruptive effects both in vitro and in vivo and they might represent chronic risks to wildlife and humans.