Identification of a carcinogenic heterocyclic amine in river water

We investigated the existence of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines in water samples from a river near Kyoto where several sewage-treatment plants discharge their effluents and water purification plants downstream use this polluted water as their source. Trp-P-2 is one of the carcinogenic heterocyclic amines included in charred meat and is often excreted in human waste in genotoxic fractions. We analysed Trp-P-2 by reverse-phase HPLC using an ODS column and the UV spectrum. Genotoxic potent activities for blue-rayon extracts of river water were detected in the samples at sampling locations. We identified Trp-P-2 in a genotoxic fraction by MS analysis. The concentrations of Trp-P-2 were calculated in the order of 10(-6) mg l(-1). These results indicated the existence of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines in the river water. The authors concluded that these carcinogens derive from the effluent of sewage treatment plants including human waste. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.