Endocrine disruptors in water filters used in the Rio dos Sinos Basin region, Southern Brazil

Abstract

The activated carbon filter is used in residences as another step in the treatment of drinking water, based on a physical-chemical process to absorb pollutants that are not removed in conventional treatment. Endocrine disruptors (EDCs) are exogenous substances or mixtures of substances that acts on the endocrine system similarly to the endogenously produced hormones, triggering malfunctions and harmful changes to human and animal health. The objective of the present work was to study EDCs through semi-quantitative analysis of residential water filters collected in the region of Rio dos Sinos basin, focusing on two specific classes: hormones and phenols. The solid phase extraction principle was used for the extraction of compounds and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for the separation and characterization of EDCs. Four samples of residential filters collected from public water distribution and artesian wells, from the cities of Novo Hamburgo and São Leopoldo were analysed. Using the developed methodology, it was possible to detect and comparatively quantify selected EDCs in all studied samples, which indicates the presence of these contaminants in drinking water from different sources.Keywords: charcoal filters, EDCs, POPs, phenols, endocrine disruptors. Disruptores endócrinos em filtros de água utilizados na região da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio dos Sinos no Sul do BrasilResumo O filtro de carvão ativado é utilizado em residências como mais uma etapa no processo de tratamento da água potável, tendo como base um processo físico-químico para adsorção de poluentes presentes na água que não são removidos no tratamento convencional. Os Disruptores Endócrinos (DEs) são substâncias ou misturas exógenas que atuam no sistema endócrino de maneira similar aos hormônios produzidos endogenamente, desencadeando disfunções e alterações nocivas à saúde humana e animal. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar DEs através da análise semi-quantitativa de amostras de filtros de água coletados na região da bacia do Rio dos Sinos focando em duas classes químicas: hormômios estrogênicos e fenóis. Foram utilizados os princípios da técnica de extração em fase sólida (SPE) para a extração dos compostos, e cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas para a separação e detecção de DEs. Foram analisadas quatro amostras de filtros residenciais provenientes de água tratada e água de poço artesiano, das cidades de Novo Hamburgo e São Leopoldo. Com o método desenvolvido foi possível detectar e quantificar comparativamente DEs selecionados em todas as amostras estudadas, o que indica a presença desses contaminantes na água de consumo humano oriunda de diferentes fontes.Palavras-chave: filtro de carvão ativo, DEs, POPs, fenóis e disruptores endócrinos.

Characterization of leachate produced by a landfill and its influence on a sewage treatment plant

“…Among them are synthetic organic compounds, pesticides, body care products, and pharmaceuticals (Goswami et al, 2018). In the face of industrial progress, water quality has been influenced by pharmaceuticals due to a large volume of human-made chemicals delivered to the environment, causing major environmental impacts, such as the alteration of the functioning of living organisms and human health (Lins, 2010).These endocrine disruptors can act in the organism mimicking, antagonizing, and/or enhancing the endogenous hormonal activities, as well triggering mutations and pathologies related mainly to the endocrine system and also affect the immune and nervous systems (Furtado & von Mühlen, 2015).…”