title: Anthropogenic pressure in a Portuguese river: Endocrine-disrupting compounds, trace elements and nutrients.
abstract: Natural organic compounds such as phytoestrogens and phytosterols found in various plants, as well as mycotoxins produced by fungi, can be found in aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of three different classes of natural estrogenic compounds, i.e., phytoestrogens, phytosterols and mycotoxins, in estuarine water samples from the Ave River estuary. For that, water samples were collected at five sampling points distributed along the estuary at low tide, during 1 year, processed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To correlate the presence of phytoestrogens and phytosterols in the estuarine water, local flora was collected on riverside. Trace elements content and physicochemical parameters such as nutrients and dissolved oxygen were also determined seasonally at each sampling point, to give insights for the evaluation of water quality and anthropogenic pressure. Both phytoestrogens and phytosterols showed a seasonal variation, with the highest values observed in spring and summer and the lowest in winter. Daidzein (DAID) was found up to 404.0 ng L(-1) in spring and coumestrol (COUM) was found up to 165.0 ng L(-1) in summer. The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) was ubiquitously determined with values ranging from 59.5 to 642.4 ng L(-1). Nutrients and metals distribution and concentration varied among sampling stations and seasons. This study revealed for the first time the presence of mycotoxins, various classes of phytoestrogens and stigmasterol (STG) in estuarine water from the Ave River (Portugal), and the evaluation of the water quality confirmed that this estuary is still highly impacted by anthropogenic activities.
authors.affiliation: a CESPU, Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies , Gandra , Portugal.|b Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR / CIMAR), University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Cláudia M R
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: a CESPU, Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies , Gandra , Portugal.|c Catholic University of Portugal, CBQF - Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry - Associated Laboratory, Faculty of Biotechnology (ESB) , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Alexandra S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.affiliation: a CESPU, Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies , Gandra , Portugal.|d Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: a CESPU, Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies , Gandra , Portugal.|e LLQAV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Couto
authors.affiliation: e LLQAV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Agostinho A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: a CESPU, Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies , Gandra , Portugal.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: a CESPU, Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies , Gandra , Portugal.|b Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR / CIMAR), University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.|f Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Tiritan
mesh_terms: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011174:Portugal; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004967:Estrogens; D009183:Mycotoxins; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D010840:Phytosterols; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Ave River estuary; mycotoxins; phytoestrogens; phytosterols; surface waters; trace elements