Occurrence of carcinogenic illudane glycosides in drinking water wells

Abstract Background Ptaquiloside (PTA), caudatoside (CAU) and ptesculentoside (PTE) are carcinogenic illudane glycosides found in bracken ferns ( Pteridium spp . ) world-wide. The environmentally mobile PTA entails both acute chronic toxicity. A comparable risk might be associated with the structurally similar CAU PTE. It is of great health concern if these compounds present drinking water, however, it currently unknown can detected wells bracken-dominated regions. This study investigates presence PTA, CAU, PTE, their corresponding hydrolysis products pterosins B (PtB), (PtA) G (PtG) water Denmark, Sweden Spain. Water samples from a total 77 deep groundwater (40–100 m) shallow (8–40 were collected preserved field, pre-concentrated laboratory analysed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Results Deep contained neither nor pterosins. However, seven private at least one and/or concentrations up to 0.27 µg L ?1 0.75 (CAU), 0.05 0.03 0.28 (PtG). first finding wells. Conclusions Detected some investigated exceeded suggested maximum tolerable although they used for purpose. Contaminated neutral pH lower electric conductivity compared no