The invasive butterbur contaminates stream and seepage water in groundwater wells with toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids

Vaidotas Kisielius*, Jawameer R. Hama, Natasa Skrbic, Hans Christian Bruun Hansen, Bjarne W. Strobel, Lars Holm Rasmussen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are persistent mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds produced by many common plant species. Health authorities recommend minimising human exposure via food and medicinal products to ensure consumer health and safety. However, there is little awareness that PAs can contaminate water resources. Therefore, no regulations exist to limit PAs in drinking water. This study measured a PA base concentration of similar to 70 ng/L in stream water adjacent to an invasive PA-producing plant Petasites hybridus (Asteraceae). After intense rain the PA concentration increased tenfold. In addition, PAs measured up to 230 ng/L in seepage water from groundwater wells. The dominant PAs in both water types corresponded to the most abundant PAs in the plants (senkirkine, senecionine, senecionine N-oxide). The study presents the first discovery of persistent plant toxins in well water and their associated risks. In addition, it for the first time reports monocrotaline and monocrotaline N-oxide in Petasites sp.

Original languageEnglish
Article number19784
JournalScientific Reports
Volume10
Issue number1
Number of pages10
ISSN2045-2322
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Keywords

  • PETASITES-HYBRIDUS
  • N-OXIDE
  • HONEY
  • PHYTOTOXINS
  • QUANTIFICATION
  • ISOPETASIN
  • PLANTS
  • FEED
  • FOOD

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