Date: 2010-03-17
Source: BDS

In the last few years several reports have been published regarding new emerging pollutants in the Rhine River (Puijker Report 2007). Now two new studies are publicly available,  showing the importance for using a wide range of in vitro reporter gene assays for endocrine disrupting chemicals. Especially the frequent occurrence of significant levels of glucocorticoid-like chemicals measured by GR CALUX^® is in the current focus of the research of the KWR in cooperation with BDS (Schrijks, Heringa and van der Linden, KWR and BDS)

Also the 2nd study from Pieters and Derksen from Grontmij-Aquasense, about estrogen-like compounds (analysed by ER CALUX^®) in the Rhine, showed that such monitoring programs are relevant to understand the basic condition of surface water as well as the impact from local sources of pollutants such as WWTPs.