title: Estrogenic activity measured in a sewage treatment works treating industrial inputs containing high concentrations of alkylphenolic compounds--a case study.
abstract: Chemical analyses were combined with a biological assay to investigate the main estrogenic chemicals as they passed through a sewage treatment works (STW) and entered a river. The STW studied was unusual in that it received wastewater from the textile trade. This wastewater was shown to contain high concentrations of alkylphenol polyethoxylates and their degradation products, such as nonylphenol. High-performance liquid chromatography fractionation, combined with biological assay, showed that the majority of the estrogenic activity was contributed by the alkylphenolic chemicals and the natural estrogens 17beta-estradiol and estrone. Despite removal of a high proportion of the alkylphenolic chemicals by the various treatment processes within the STW, concentrations in the final effluent were still high compared to most other STW effluents in the United Kingdom. The effluent was very estrogenic to caged fish, as was the river water 2 and 5 km downstream of the STW, even though less so. Using various approaches, attempts were made to determine which group of chemicals contributed most to the estrogenic activity of the effluent. The analysis suggested that, in this unusual situation, the alkylphenolic chemicals may contribute the majority of the estrogenic activity of the effluent. However, this conclusion was based on a number of uncertainties that are presently unresolved and hence can be considered only tentative.
authors.affiliation: CEFAS, Centre for Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Burnham Laboratory, Essex, United Kingdom. d.a.sheahan@cefas.co.uk
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sheahan
authors.forename: Geoff C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Brighty
authors.forename: Mic
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Sonia J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hurst
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Edwin J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Routledge
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sumpter
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Waldock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D017686:Oncorhynchus mykiss; D010636:Phenols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012722:Sewage; D013783:Textile Industry; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D010636:Phenols; D012722:Sewage; D014819:Vitellogenins