Drinking water contains environmental contaminants such as disinfection byproducts (DBPs), leached metal ions, and pesticides.  These chemicals are potentially harmful constituents which can cause potential adverse health effects to humans. In a series of studies, we investigated the cytotoxicity of binary mixtures of haloaromatic DBP plus lead ion, lead ion plus copper ion, and copper ion plus glyphosate, separately as well as in combination, to human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells. Results show that the cytotoxicity of the individual constituents against Caco-2 and SH-SY5Y cells were significantly different than the cytotoxicity of binary mixtures.  Haloaromatic DBP plus lead ion resulted in synergistic effects (i.e., the constituents were more toxic in combination as compared to the toxicity when inoculated separately).  Lead ion plus copper ion resulted in an additive relationship (i.e., similar toxicities were observed when the constituents were inoculated in combination or separately).  Copper ion plus glyphosate resulted in an antagonistic effect (i.e., the cytotoxicity decreased when the constituents were inoculated in combination as compared to toxicities induced separately).  In general, constituents were more potent in neuronal cells than in gut cells at the same exposure doses.  These data indicate that future prioritization of emerging drinking water contaminants must be considered in terms of their own toxicity as well as the combinatorial effects with other chemicals in water.

Differential cytotoxicity of drinking water contaminant co-exposures against human intestinal and neuronal cells

ACS Fall 2021

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