Occurrence, fate and environmental risk assessment of endocrine disrupting compounds at the wastewater treatment works in Pietermaritzburg (South Africa).
Steroid hormone Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) (natural estrogens (17-β-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), estriol (E3), synthetic estrogen (17-α-ethinylestradiol (EE2)), natural androgen (testosterone) (tes) and natural progestogen (progesterone) (pro)) at an activated sludge wastewater works (WWW), were quantitated using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The steroid hormone profile in the adjacent surface water was also determined. Pro was the most abundant (41%, 408 ng/L) in the influent, followed by tes (35%, 343 ng/L) and E2 (12%, 119 ng/L). E1 was the most abundant (35%, 23 ng/L) in effluent, followed by E2 (30%, 20 ng/L) and tes (17%, 11 ng/L). Chemical removal efficiencies of the steroid hormones by the WWW averaged 92%. High removal efficiency was observed for pro (98% ± 2) and tes (96% ± 1), compared to natural (72-100%) and synthetic estrogen (90% ± 3), with biodegradation being the major removal route for pro and tes. The lowest removal for E2 is in spring (65%), and maximum removal is in winter (95%). Natural (E2, E1) and synthetic estrogen (EE2) were major contributors to influent (E2 = 69%) and effluent (E2 = 73%) estrogenic potency. The estrogenic potency removal averaged 85% (range: 73-100). Risk assessment of the steroid hormones present in wastewater effluent, and surface water, indicated that EE2 and E2 pose the highest risk to human health and fish. EE2 was found to be much more resistant to biodegradation, compared to E2, in surface water. Estrone, as the breakdown product of E2 and EE2 in wastewater, appears to be suitable as an indicator of EDCs. The study suggests that a battery of tests: quantitative chemical assay, bioassay for estrogenic activity and risk assessment methods, collectively, are preferred in order to make meaningful, accurate conclusions regarding potential adverse effects of EDCs present in treated wastewater effluent or surface water, to the aquatic environment, human health, and wildlife systems.
Scientific Services Laboratories: Chemical Sciences, Engineering & Scientific Services Division, Umgeni Water, P O Box 9, Pietermaritzburg 3200, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Electronic address: Thavrin.manickum@umgeni.co.za.
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D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D013019:South Africa; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
17-α-ethinylestradiol; 17-β-estradiol; 17-β-estradiol equivalent; ADI; ATV; Activated sludge; Aut; BNR; Bio; CIR; Chem; Ci; D/S (d/s); DWWW; Darvill WasteWater Works; E1; E2; E3; EDC; EE2; EEF; EEQ; ELISA; Endocrine Disrupting Compound; Endocrine disrupting compound (EDC); Eqs; HDD; HED; MBR; Pro/pro; Progesterone/progesterone; Risk assessment; SRT; STP; Sewage effluent; Spr; Steroid hormones; Sum; Tes/tes; Testosterone/testosterone; U/S (u/s); UTV; WRC; WWW; Water Research Commission; Win; acceptable daily intake; autumn; average trigger value; biological; biological nutrient removal; chemical; chemical concentration of hormone i; computed international range; down-stream; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; equivalents; estradiol equivalency factor; estriol; estrone; human daily dose; human equivalent dose; membrane bio-reactor; sewage treatment plant; solids retention time; spring; summer; up-stream; upper trigger value; wastewater works; winter