An integrated evaluation of the persistence and effects of 4‐nonylphenol in an experimental littoral ecosystem

Abstract

Abstract-A comprehensive littoral enclosure study was conducted to assess the persistence and distribution of 4-nonylphenol (NP) in a littoral ecosystem, and to evaluate the compound's effects on resident aquatic biota. Enclosures with a mean (ϮSD) surface area and volume of 31.4 Ϯ 3.3 m 2 and 32.0 Ϯ 6.4 m 3 , respectively, received eleven applications at 48-h intervals with one of four different rates of NP. This created a 20-d application period which was followed by a three to fourteen month observation period, depending on the endpoint measured. Mean Ϯ SD NP concentrations in the water column measured 2 h after each application averaged 5 Ϯ 4, 23 Ϯ 11, 76 Ϯ 21, and 243 Ϯ 41 g/L at nominal treatments of 3, 30, 100, and 300 g/L, respectively. Persistence in the water column was relatively short, with a dissipation half-life estimated at Յ1.2 d. Persistence of NP in sediment and on macrophytes was substantially longer, with estimated half-lives of 28 to 104 d and 8 to 13 d, respectively. Zooplankton was the most sensitive group of organisms evaluated, with significant reductions in population abundances of some copepod taxa observed at the 23 Ϯ 11-g/L treatment. Fish survival was affected at 243 Ϯ 41 g/L. The most sensitive benthic macroinvertebrate taxon, Pisidium (Bivalvia) was affected at 76 Ϯ 21 g/L, but most taxa were only affected at the 243 Ϯ 41-g/L treatment. None of the assessed populations were affected at the 5 Ϯ 4-g/L treatment. Macrophytes and periphyton were not adversely affected by any of the treatments. Overall community composition, assessed at the family level or higher, was not affected at or below the 23 Ϯ 11-g/L treatment, but did exhibit substantial changes at the 243 Ϯ 41-g/L treatment. Some minor changes were observed at the 76 Ϯ 21-g/L treatment. The maximum acceptable toxicant concentration in the water column, based on protection of the most sensitive taxa in the test system, was estimated at ϳ10 g/L. Details on NP persistence and distribution within the enclosures, and detailed effects on zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish are described in four separate papers immediately following this overview.

Determination of Nonylphenol, Octylphenol and Bisphenol-A in Water and Sediments of Two Major Rivers in Lagos, Nigeria

“…The distribution of nonylphenol in aquatic environment in several rivers in Europe and USA has been reported where it has been found to be mainly concentrated in sediment [3,5,[8][9][10]. Various studies have also confirmed that nonylphenol present risks to aquatic organisms, especially zooplanktons and benthic macro-invertebrates in areas of high chronic exposure to high concentrations [11,12]. They have so far been found to exert toxicity and estrogenic effects on aquatic organisms with attendant effects on human health [13].…”

Degradation of a Nonylphenol Single Isomer by Sphingomonas sp. Strain TTNP3 Leads to a Hydroxylation-Induced Migration Product

“…The chromatographic analyses of the synthesized reference compound and the metabolites led to their identification as 2(3,5-dimethyl-3-heptyl)-1,4-benzenediol. This finding indicates that the nonylphenol metabolism of this bacterium involves unconventional degradation pathways where an NIH shift mechanism occurs.Nonylphenol (NP) is a ubiquitous pollutant which mainly results from the biodegradation of widely used NP polyethoxylate surfactants, and it is well known for its endocrine systemdisrupting potential (5,8,11,13,20,21). NP is used as part of a technical mixture which consists of more than 20 branched isomers of the nonyl chain (23, 28).…”

“…Nonylphenol (NP) is a ubiquitous pollutant which mainly results from the biodegradation of widely used NP polyethoxylate surfactants, and it is well known for its endocrine systemdisrupting potential (5,8,11,13,20,21). NP is used as part of a technical mixture which consists of more than 20 branched isomers of the nonyl chain (23,28).…”

Behavior and fate of alkylphenols in surface water of the Jialu River, Henan Province, China

“…And the partition coefficient (log k P = 4.8) and the correlation (R 2 = 0.63) for SPM phase and water phase clearly indicated that NP was readily adsorbed to SPM and rapidly reach the equilibrium between water and SPM. Liber et al (1999) also demonstrated that once released into littoral zone of pond ecosystem, NP has a relatively short time in the water column but more persistent in sediment. And the short persistence in water column was apparently not a result of degradation but rather largely a sequence of the hydrophobic nature of NP leading to a partitioning to solid.…”