title: Estrogenic activity profiles and risks in surface waters and sediments of the Pearl River system in South China assessed by chemical analysis and in vitro bioassay.
abstract: Estrogenic activity risks in the Pearl River system (Liuxi River, Zhujiang River and Shijing River) in South China were assessed by combined chemical analysis and recombinant yeast estrogen screen (YES) bioassay for surface waters and sediments collected in both dry and wet seasons. The xenoestrogens 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol and bisphenol A were detected at almost every sampling site at concentrations of several ng L(-1) (ng g(-1)) to tens of μg L(-1) (μg g(-1)) in surface waters (and sediments). The estrogens estrone and 17β-estradiol were also detected in most of the samples with concentrations from several ng L(-1) (ng g(-1)) to tens of ng L(-1) (ng g(-1)) in surface waters (and sediments). However, synthetic estrogens diethylstilbestrol and 17α-ethinylestradiol were only detected at a few sites. The 17β-estradiol equivalents (EEQ) screened by the YES bioassay were in the range of 0.23-324 ng L(-1) in surface waters and from not detected to 101 ng g(-1) in sediments. Shijing River displayed one to two orders of magnitude higher levels for both measured chemical concentrations and estrogenic activities than the Zhujiang River and the Liuxi River. A risk assessment for the surface waters showed high risks for the downstream reaches of the Liuxi River and the upstream to midstream reaches of the Zhujiang River and the Shijing River. Higher estrogenic risks were observed in the wet season than in the dry season for surface waters, probably due to the input of runoff and direct overflow of small urban streams during heavy rain events. Only small variations in estrogenic risk were found for the sediments between the two seasons, suggesting that sediments are a sink for these estrogenic compounds in the rivers.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, P R China.
authors.forename: Jian-Liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Guang-Guo
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: You-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D002681:China; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004967:Estrogens; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical