Balancing the budget of environmental estrogen exposure: the contribution of recycled water.
Estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds (e-EDCs) are present in treated sewage and there is concern about estrogenicity of potable recycled water. However e-EDCs are also present in other environmental media and intake from water needs to be considered in relation to these other sources. The concentrations of 13 e-EDCs in foodstuffs and drinking water are reviewed, their predicted concentrations in recycled water are estimated, and the daily estrogenic intake as 17beta-estradiol equivalent (EEq) based on both in vitro and in vivo potencies is calculated as 1.39 and 9.65 microg EEq/d, respectively. Dietary intake accounts for more than 99.8% of that total, and more than 84.2% is due to phytosterols. Drinking 2 L of recycled water per day is expected to add 0.001 to 0.016 microg EEq/d based on in vitro and in vivo potencies, respectively. Exposure to e-EDCs in recycled water is therefore likely to be insignificant compared to current dietary intakes.
Leusch
Frederic D L
FD
Griffith University, Smart Water Research Facility, Parkland Drive, Gold Coast QLD, 4222, Australia. f.leusch@griffith.edu.au
Moore
Michael R
MR
Chapman
Heather F
HF
D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004032:Diet; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005502:Food; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004967:Estrogens; D014867:Water