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.