Endocrine disruptors in liquid plastics

Epoxy resins are synthetic resins that react after mixing with a hardener to form a solid plastic. After curing, they are resistant to temperature and chemicals and are therefore suitable for numerous applications, e.g. as flooring in the construction industry.

As building materials are usually disposed of in landfill sites after use, it is important that they are also toxicologically safe after use and weathering. To test this, the Ecotox Centre analyses the eluates of various artificially aged epoxy resins using different bioassays.

Biotests used

• Luminescent bacteria test
• Acute and chronic toxicity test with water fleas
• Combined algae test with unicellular green algae
• Genotoxicity test umuC with genetically modified bacteria
• Estrogenic activity with genetically modified cell cultures (ERα-Calux)

Project report

Hormonaktive Flüssigkunststoffe in Bauabfällen