Identification and quantitative confirmation of dinitropyrenes and 3-nitrobenzanthrone as major mutagens in contaminated sediments

Polar fractions of a sediment extract of the industrial area of Bitterfeld, Germany, have been subjected for effect-directed identification of mutagens using the Ames fluctuation assay with TA98. Mutagenicity could be well recovered in several secondary and tertiary fractions. Dinitropyrenes and 3-nitrobenzanthrone could be confirmed to contribute great shares of the observed mutagenicity. In addition, a multitude of polar polycyclic aromatic compounds has been tentatively identified in mutagenic fractions including nitro-PAHs, azaarenes, ketones, quinones, hydroxy-compounds, lactones and carboxylic acids although their contribution to mutagenicity could not be quantified due to a lack of standards. Diagnostic Salmonella strains YG1024 and YG1041 were applied to confirm the contribution of nitro-aromatic compounds. We suggest the inclusion of dinitropyrenes and 3-nitrobenzanthrone into sediment monitoring in order to minimize the mutagenic risk to aquatic organisms and to human health.

► Effect-directed analysis of polar sediment extract fractions.
► Extensive fractionation.
► Tentative identification of numerous polar polycyclic aromatic compounds.
► Quantitative confirmation of dinitropyrenes and 3-nitrobenzanthrone as predominating mutagens.
► Qualitative confirmation with Salmonella strains YG1024 and YG1041.