Ecological risk of estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals in sewage plant effluent and reclaimed water

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2013

Keywords

Water reuse, Estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals, Estrogenic activity, Ecological risk, Reclaimed water, Sewage plant

DOI

10.1016/j.envpol.2013.05.006

Abstract

The long-term ecological risk of micropollutants, especially endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has threatened reclaimed water quality. In this study, estrogenic activity and ecological risk of eight typical estrogenic EDCs in effluents from sewage plants were evaluated. The estrogenic activity analysis showed that steroidal estrogens had the highest estrogenic activity (ranged from 10−1 to 103 ng-E2/L), phenolic compounds showed weaker estrogenic activity (mainly ranged from 10−3 to 10 ng-E2/L), and phthalate esters were negligible. The ecological risk of the estrogenic EDCs which was characterized by risk quotient ranged from 10−4 to 103, with an order in descending: steroids estrogens, phenolic compounds and phthalate esters. The eight estrogenic EDCs were scored and sorted based on the comparison of the estrogenic activity and the ecological risk, suggesting that 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2) should be the priority EDCs to control in municipal sewage plants. The results suggested that 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2) should be the priority EDCs to control in municipal sewage plants.

Source Publication

Environmental Pollution

Volume Number

180

First Page

339

Last Page

344

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