Combined biological and chemical assessment of estrogenic activities in wastewater treatment plant effluents

Abstract

Five wastewater treatment plant effluents were analyzed for known endocrine disrupters and estrogenicity. Estrogenicity was determined by using the yeast estrogen screen (YES) and by measuring the blood plasma vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations in exposed male rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). While all wastewater treatment plant effluents contained measurable concentrations of estrogens and gave a positive response with the YES, only at two sites did the male fish have significantly increased VTG blood plasma concentrations after the exposure, compared to pre-exposure concentrations. Estrone (E1) concentrations ranged up to 51 ng L(-1), estradiol (E2) up to 6 ng L(-1), and ethinylestradiol (EE2) up to 2 ng L(-1) in the 90 samples analyzed. Alkylphenols, alkylphenolmonoethoxylates and alkylphenoldiethoxylates, even though found at microg L(-1) concentrations in effluents from wastewater treatment plants with a significant industrial content, did not contribute much to the overall estrogenicity of the samples taken due to their low relative potency. Expected estrogenicities were calculated from the chemical data for each sample by using the principle of concentration additivity and relative potencies of the various chemicals as determined with the yeast estrogen screen. Measured and calculated estradiol equivalents gave the same order of magnitude and correlated rather well (R(2)=0.6).

Effect-directed analysis (EDA) in aquatic ecotoxicology: state of the art and future challenges

“…In contrast, when the method detection limits of chemicals that could not be detected by the utilized analytical methods, namely 17β-estradiol and ethinylestradiol, were taken as a basis of estimation for the Bio-EEQs, 95% of the Chem-EEQ could be explained. Advanced analytical methods for natural and synthetic hormones with lower detection limits are one way to reduce this problem (Aerni et al 2004.…”

Chemical kinetics and interactions involved in horseradish peroxidase-mediated oxidative polymerization of phenolic compounds

“…Concentration as low as 0.1ng/l could cause significant adverse reproduction effects (Aerni et al, 2004). Thus since 1996, the US Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Office of…”

“…Previous research has determined that natural steroid estrogens (e.g., estrone (E1), 17ß-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3)) and synthetic steroid estrogen (17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2)) are the major contributors to the estrogenic activity observed in sewage effluents (Aerni et al, 2004;Leusch et al, 2005;Auriol et al, 2006b) in spite of their low concentrations (Gutendorf and Westendorf, 2001). As shown in Figure 1, which is compiled from Gutendorf and Weterdorf, 2001, with the same concentration, mammalian estrogens have much higher estrogenic potential than the other These chemicals originate from agriculture, industry, humans, household products, and other pharmaceuticals.…”

Channel Catfish Estrogenicity and Sewer Overflows; Implications for Xenoestrogen Exposure

“…There is overwhelming evidence that effluents from sewage treatment plants exhibit strong human and animal in vitro and in vivo and in situ wildlife estrogenic activity (Aerni, 2004;Jobling et al, 2005;Liney et al, 2005;Petrovic et al, 2002). A wide variety of estrogenic agents is contained in municipal wastewater including pharmaceutical estrogens, phthalates, bisphenol-A, pesticides and detergent breakdown products like nonylphenol (Braga, 2005;Carbella et al, 2005;Carbella et al, 2004;Cargouet et al, 2004).…”