Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EE2) in water supply system and their effect on water treatment facilities

Abstract

The main objective of presented study was to identify the mobility of an Endocrine Disruptive Compound such as 17α-Ethynylestradiol (EE2) in water bodies and assess its potential risk of reaching the water treatment facilities. In this study a series of lab experiments were performed to identify the extent of partitioning of EE2 to different type of suspended matter (illite, montmorillonite, and goethite) and humic acid in water. Batch-equilibration methods were conducted at nanogram levels. The results showed that EE2 sorption in water column follows Freundlich isotherm. Highest sorption values were achieved for finest colloids (montrorillonite). However, in natural condition some percentage (20-40%) of biovailable (no sorbed) EE2 was found in water which can be uptaken by water treatment plant. It was found that an interaction between the synthetic steroid estrogen (EE2) and various suspended in water constituents was governed by binding through hydrogen bonding; and hydrophobic interaction with siloxane surface.