Combined use of passive sampling and in vitro bioassays for the detection of emerging pollutants in surface water

River systems are contaminated by various chemicals, a number of which are described as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) that can be monitored by using in vitro receptor-based bioassays. While estrogen (ER) and aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhR) activities have been well documented, much fewer information are available on other xenobiotic-sensing or steroid receptors [e.g. pregnane X, (PXR) androgen (AR), glucocorticoid (GR), progestagen (PR) receptors]. In this study, we address the use of multi-receptor approach (ER, AhR, PXR, AR, GR, MR and PR) based on different reporter cell lines combined with passive water sampling with polar organic compounds chemical sampler (POCIS) for the detection of polar emerging compounds in surface waters. This approach has been applied to a river site that is subjected to pharmaceutical industry effluent and where development abnormalities in fish were noted. At three sampling stations located upstream (A) and downstream (B and C) from the pharmaceutical industry, EDC activities were monitored in sediments and POCIS. In sediments, weak to moderate estrogenic and dioxin-like activities were found at the three stations. First analyzed POCIS showed weak PAH-like activity as well as significant PXR and ER activities at the three stations. Interestingly, strong GR activities were recorded at site B and C (Dexa-EQ = 61-69 µg/g) but none at site A. In addition, anti-MR, anti-PR and AR activity were also found downstream from the effluent hence suggesting a release of polar steroid compounds in the water phase. Samples from the other campaigns are still under analyses to assess seasonal variability of the contamination. Chemicals analyses are under investigation to identify contaminants responsible for measured activities