Partition of Nonylphenol and Related Compounds Among Different Aquatic Compartments in Tiber River (Central Italy)

Abstract

Nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol mono-and di-ethoxylate (NP1EO, NP2EO) and bisphenol A (BPA) were determined in water, suspended particulate matter (s.p.m.) and bed sediment collected from the most polluted stretch of Tiber river (Italy) in the neighbourhood of Rome. Analytes were recovered from water samples by solid-phase extraction (SPE) on Si-C 18 cartridges and analysed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Solid samples were extracted by using an aqueous solution of the non-ionic surfactant Tween 80.Results indicated that 2-42% of NP, 9-45% of NP1EO, 11-18% of NP2EO and 4-62% of BPA respectively occurred in the suspended phase. In general, for all compounds a higher affinity for s.p.m. than for bed sediments was observed, reflecting differences in the nature of particles and in their sorption capacity for organic micro-pollutants. The partition of target compounds in river compartments was affected by differences in hydrological conditions between the two sampling campaigns. Run-off from the basin or resuspension/redissolution from sediments was an important source of nonylphenol and bisphenol A during high discharge regimes. Partition coefficients of compounds (log K oc ) between water and s.p.m. were calculated under stable flow condition. K oc values, experimentally measured in the river, were higher than those predicted by K ow , implying that specific chemical interaction could occur in the sorption mechanisms for these group of compounds.

Association of endocrine‐disrupting chemicals with total organic carbon in riverine water and suspended particulate matter from the Pearl River, China

“…For instance, SPM contents obtained in the present study ranged from 7.9 to 108 mg/L, with an average of 29.8 mg/L (Supplemental Data, Table S3). By comparison, SPM in the Tiber River of Italy ranged from 36.3 to 145.7 mg/L, with an average of 100 mg/L [13]. Correspondingly, the mean relative abundances of particle-bound NP and BPA in the Tiber River were 16% and 39%, respectively, substantially higher than those obtained in the present study.…”

“…The log K OC value for NP in the Pearl River was close to that measured in the other studies. The log K OC value for BPA was similar to that measured in the Elbe River, Germany (log K OC ¼ 4.5 AE 0.19) [11] and in the Tiber River, Italy (log K OC ¼ 4.05-4.23) [13]. This suggests that, considering SPM, the in situ K OC values for phenolic xenoestrogens in river water samples around the world are generally within a common range.…”

“…To further evaluate the potential threats of these chemicals to aquatic ecosystems, one must examine their distribution, transport, transformation, and fate [9][10][11][12][13].…”

“…Studies on the sorption and partitioning of EDCs on particulate organic carbon (POC) in aquatic environments have been conducted [12][13][14][15][16]. More recently, colloid sorption of estrogenic substances has been investigated.…”

Bisphenol A occurred in Kao-Pin River and its tributaries in Taiwan

“…Concentrations of surface water were between 2 and 230 ng/L in Japan (Suzuki et al 2004). In Italy, concentrations were between <LOD (30) and 140 ng/L in one study (Patrolecco et al 2006) and between <1 and 145 ng/L in another (Pojana et al 2007). …”