Search

The aim of this diploma thesis was to detect (anti-)progestagenic activity in wastewater samples from the influent and effluent of six wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in South Bohemia. Subsequently, the efficiency of the treatment process of this WWTPs was assessed from this point of view. The wastewater from WWTPs was transported to the laboratory and extracted oby solid phase extraction. The eluates were washed, evaporated and dissolved in DMSO. Detection of (anti-)progestagenic activity was performed by using the PR-CALUX in vitro bioassay. Transgenic cells were seeded on well plates and were exposed to ORG2058, reference substance for progestagenic activity, or RU-486, reference substance for antiprogestagenic activity, as well as a number of diluted wastewater extracts. After that, luminiscence of the cells was measured and it was was expressed in relative light units which were a measure of (anti-)progestagenic activity.(Anti-)progestagenic activity was reported in equivalent concentrations of the reference substance. Progestagenic activity in WWTPs influent ranged from below LOQ up to 1.8 ng/l ORG2058 eq. In effluent this activity ranged from below LOQ up to 0.5 ng/l ORG2058 eq. The elimination rate of progestagenic activity ranged from -25% to 100%. Antiprogestagenic activity in WWTPs inffluent was below the LOQ up to 1 ng/l RU-486 eq. In effluent this activity was below LOQ up to 9.7 ng/l RU-486 eq. The elimination rate of antiprogestagenic activity ranged from -50% to 100%.(Anti-)progestagenic activity in waste water has been demonstrated by using the PR-CALUX in vitro bioassay. Negative removal efficiency of some WWTPs was also documented. This is probably caused by biotransformation of some substances which don´t have (anti-)progestagenic activity to substances which have this activity or it is caused by deconjugation of metabolits of compounds with (anti-)progestagenic activity. Antiprogestagenic activity may be more hazardous for organisms living in the aquatic environment than progestagenic activity because of concentrations in WWTPs effluent. However this activity should not be underestimated.