Bioremediation of 17β-estradiol, an Endocrine Disrupting Chemical, by the Oyster Mushroom, pleurotus ostreatus

Abstract

This project investigated the abilities of Pleurotus ostreatus to sequester and break down the naturally occurring steroidal hormone 17-B estradiol through bioremediation in an aquatic environment. Pure fungal cultures were transferred to straw and wood substrate and colonized substrate was transferred to aquaria containing concentrations of estradiol in moving water. Samples were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-UV). Results were inconclusive due to detection limitation of the HPLC-UV system utilized and the adsorption of 17B-estradiol onto components in the aquarium. In a separate experiment, water samples of the Flint River Watershed, were sent to Arizona Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants for analysis through GC/LC/MS. This analysis showed levels of 17a-ethynyl estradiol well above those that caused morphological and behavioral changes (40 ng/L) in fish during in vitro experiments. The results of the water sampling also included BPA, a chemical which mimics steriodal estrogens. Another experiment measured the dry weight of P. ostreatus when exposed to 17B-estradiol (mixed in acetone) for 18 days. There was not a significant difference in dry weights of P. ostreatus grown with or without estradiol. The final experiement involved uptake and adsorption of 17B-estradiol using a human serum ELISA kit after 8 days of exposure to estradiol. Results were inconclusive due to organic contaminants. Growth of mycelium was observed in all in vitro experiments. This could indicate P. ostreatus was not inhibited by 17B-estradiol and may be able to use it as a carbon source.