title: Occurrence, fate and removal of synthetic oral contraceptives (SOCs) in the natural environment: a review.
abstract: Synthetic oral contraceptives (SOCs) are a group of compounds with progestagenic and/or androgenic activities, with some also possessing estrogenic activities. Recent research has documented that some of these emerging contaminants have adverse effects on aquatic organisms at very low concentrations. To facilitate the evaluation of their latent risks, published works on their occurrence and fate in the environment are reviewed. Androgenic/progestagenic relative potencies or relative binding affinity of these SOCs as well as their physicochemical properties and toxicity are summarized. Appropriate analytical methods are outlined for various environmental sample types, including methods of sample preparation and limit of detection/quantification (LOD/LOQ). Finally results on their occurrence and fate in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and other environments are critically examined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States. liuzehua7861@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ze-hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jactone Arogo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ogejo
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pruden
authors.forename: Katharine F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Knowlton
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011372:Progestins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical