Benzotriazole is antiestrogenic in vitro but not in vivo

Abstract

Benzotriazole (BT) is an anticorrosive agent well known for its use in aircraft deicing and antifreeze fluids but also used in dishwasher detergents. It is highly persistent in the environment; therefore, BT is frequently found in runoff emanating from large airports as well as in the surrounding groundwater. In addition, BT has recently been found to be ubiquitous in Swiss wastewater treatment plant effluents and their receiving waters; however, very little chronic toxicity data is available on which to base a sound ecological risk assessment of this chemical. In vitro assays conducted using a recombinant yeast (anti‐) estrogen assay indicated that BT possessed clear antiestrogenic properties. This chemical was approximately 100‐fold less potent than Tamoxifen, which was used as a positive control. A subsequent in vivo study, however, involving analysis of vitellogenin induction and somatic indices in adult fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) exposed to BT at concentrations of 10, 100, and 1,000 μg/L for two weeks showed no evidence of antiestrogenic activity by this compound. The possibility exists that higher concentrations of BT may yet induce the type of activity observed in vitro, although the concentrations used here already far exceed those reported in surface‐water samples. Furthermore, adverse effects may be observed in fish or other organisms exposed to BT for a longer period than employed here, although such studies are costly and unlikely to be included in standard risk assessment procedures. A rigorous investigation of the chronic toxicity of BT is imperative.

Occurrence and removal of benzotriazoles and ultraviolet filters in a municipal wastewater treatment plant

“…From the limited acute toxicity data available in the literature, BTs have relatively low acute toxicity with the reported no-observed-effect-concentrations (NOEC) usually in the mg/L range (Pillard et al, 2001;Kadar et al, 2010). However, the chronic toxicity of these compounds is still a concern, which requires further investigation (Kadar et al, 2010;Harris et al, 2007;Farre et al, 2008). Some UV filters such as 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor (4-MBC) and octyl 4-methoxycinnamate (OMC) have exhibited adverse biological effects due to their hormonal activities (estrogenic, antiestrogenic, androgenic and antiandrogenic) as demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo tests (Schlumpf et al, 2001;Heneweer et al, 2005;Maerkel et al, 2005;Kunz and Fent, 2006;Klammer et al, 2007).…”

Biodegradation of three selected benzotriazoles in aquifer materials under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

“…Much higher concentrations of up to 126 mg/L for BT and 17 mg/L for 5-TTri have been found in groundwater from airport locations due to its heavy use as an antifogging agent (Cancilla et al, 1998(Cancilla et al, , 2003. Although the acute toxicity of BT and its derivatives (5-TTri and CBT) is very low with reported no-observed effect concentrations (NOEC) being in the mg/L range (Kadar et al, 2010;Pillard et al, 2001), the chronic toxicity of these compounds at such high concentrations may be a concern and requires further investigation (Farre et al, 2008;Harris et al, 2007;Kadar et al, 2010).…”

Biodegradation of three selected benzotriazoles under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

“…From relative few available acute toxicity data, they suggest that BTs are relatively nontoxic, reported no-observed effect concentrations (NOEC) in freshwater and marine environments are usually in the mg/L range (Pillard et al, 2001;Kadar et al, 2010). However, many authors have commented that the chronic toxicity of these compounds still needs to be seriously concerned and a rigorous investigation of their chronic toxicity is necessary (Kadar et al, 2010;Harris et al, 2007;Farre et al, 2008).…”