Alkylphenol polyethoxylate
(APEO) derivatives, such as nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO), nonylphenol
diethoxylate (NP2EO), nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP), have been detected
in the surface water, sediment, food and groundwater of numerous countries. Because
groundwater is the main source of water for pig herds, the aim of this study was to
measure the concentrations of APEO derivatives in groundwater and blood samples that were
collected from pig herds raised near the Wuluo River in Southern Taiwan. The mean
concentrations of NP, OP, NP1EO and NP2EO in the groundwater supply
for 10 pig herds were 0.04 µg/l, 0.26 ± 0.23
µg/l, 0.74 ± 0.69
µg/l and 0.17 ± 0.22
µg/l, respectively. NP was detected in all blood
samples collected from 5 of the 10 pig herds. The highest concentrations detected in the
blood samples collected from six-week-old piglets and sows were 12.00
µg/l and 56.94 µg/l,
respectively. Blood samples from 4 of the 5 herds showed OP contamination. The highest OP
concentrations detected in 6-week-old piglets and sows were 275.58
µg/l and 566.32
µg/l, respectively. These results indicate that APEO
derivatives accumulated in the groundwater supply and the bloodstreams of the pigs.
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