Nonylphenols in sediments and effluents associated with diverse wastewater outfalls

Abstract

Nonylphenols (NPs) have been reported to disrupt endocrine function and sexual development in aquatic organisms at low concentrations. Environmental NP burdens are predominantly derived from degradation of nonylphenol polyethoxylate surfactants. We detected NPs in discharge‐associated riverine sediments adjacent to 11 of 20 active sewage treatment plants (STPs) at concentrations up to 12,400 μg/kg. While most previous studies have focused on STPs, nonylphenols were observed in association with a variety of outfall types. The highest sediment burden, 14,100 μg/kg, was detected near a federal facility's stormwater discharge. Of 75 sediments examined from 67 sites, 45% contained NP concentrations >5 μg/kg; median concentration in these NP‐positive sediments was 369 μg/kg. Other surfactant‐derived alkylphenolic compounds, specifically 4‐tert‐octylphenol and 4‐cumylphenol, were observed in two sediments at 8,220 and 70,000 μg/kg, respectively. The maximum NP concentration detected in an effluent, 6,300 μg/L, was from a shipyard oil/water separator. Nonylphenols were detected (> 1.0 μg/L) in 20% of the 59 effluents examined; 10% exceeded 10 μg/L. Sediments sampled near a STP that had ceased treatment operations 20 years prior contained 54,000 μg/kg, indicative of long‐term NP residence. Results indicate that NPs may be released from diverse sources, concentrate in associated sediments, and persist therein for extended periods.

A flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) gill cell line as in vitro acute assay system of nonylphenol cytotoxicity

“…NP is resistant to biodegradation and persistent in the environment (Arukwe et al 2000). Levels of nonylphenol in the aquatic environment have been reported as being as high as 1.5 μmol/L in the wastewater entering British rivers (Blackburn and Waldock 1995) and levels up to 28.6 μmol/L in some sewage effluents in USA (Hale et al 2000).…”

Effects of prolonged exposure to 4-tert-octylphenol on toxicity and indices of oestrogenic exposure in the sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus, Pallas)

“…As APs accumulate in sediments (Hale et al, 2000;Shang et al, 1999), they may remain available to benthic infauna and demersal fish. They bioconcentrate (Servos, 1999), and there is some evidence that food may be a potential exposure route in other organisms (Allen et al, 2002), thus they may also biomagnify.…”

“…Any residual APnEOs discharged to an aerobic environment degrade with a half-life of a few days, forming AP 2 EO and APECs, which are subsequently mineralised to CO 2 with a further half-life of a few weeks (Ekelund, Granmo, Magnusson, Berggren, & Bergmann, 1993). However, APs and short-chain APEOs have moderately high log K ow values, slow anaerobic degradation rates and therefore accumulate in sediments (Hale et al, 2000). A removal half-life in excess of 50 years (Shang, Macdonald, & Ikonomou, 1999) means that substantial inventories can be found in sediments near STW outfalls, even decades after their discharge has ceased (Hale et al, 2000).…”

“…However, APs and short-chain APEOs have moderately high log K ow values, slow anaerobic degradation rates and therefore accumulate in sediments (Hale et al, 2000). A removal half-life in excess of 50 years (Shang, Macdonald, & Ikonomou, 1999) means that substantial inventories can be found in sediments near STW outfalls, even decades after their discharge has ceased (Hale et al, 2000). It is therefore likely that, although APEO usage in the UK is reducing, contaminated sediments may act as long-term reservoirs for APEOs.…”

Alkylphenols affect lobster (Homarus americanus) larval survival, molting and metamorphosis

“…Environmental contamination by alkylphenols and their breakdown products in rivers, oceans, and sediments is well known and widespread (Hale et al 2000). It is estimated that of the million tons of alkylphenol ethoxylates and the millions of tons of BPA that are produced annually, approximately 60% end up in the aquatic environment via discharge from ineffective wastewater treatment plants or other release points (Warhurst 1995;Renner 1997;Ying et al 2002).…”