Analysis and occurrence of estrogen in wastewater in Japan

Abstract

This paper describes an analytical procedure for free estrogens and their conjugates in domestic wastewater. The procedure demonstrated in this study is innovative in terms of levels of detection and quantification of the following substances: estrone (E1); 17beta-estradiol (E2); 17alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2); estriol (E3); estrone-3-sulfate (E1-S); beta-estradiol 3-sulfate (E2-S); estriol 3-sulfate (E3-S); estrone beta-D-glucuronide (E1-G); beta-estradiol 17-(beta-D)-glucuronide (E2-G); estriol 3-(beta-D)-glucuronide (E3-G); beta-estradiol 3-sulfate 17-glucuronide (E2-SandG); and estradiol 3,17-disulfate (E2-diS). The detection limits of this method ranged from 0.1 to 1.4 ng/l. The recovery efficiencies of the estrogens in the analysis from influent and effluent of the secondary settling tank in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) were higher than 94% for the free estrogens, but were less than 50% for the conjugated estrogens. The field study using this method was conducted at twenty WWTPs in Japan. The median concentrations of the estrogens ranged from ND to as high as >100 ng/l. In the influent and secondary effluent samples, the concentrations of E1, E2 and E3 were the same levels as those previously reported. We found that the conjugated estrogens exist at higher concentrations in the influent and the secondary effluent than in the other studies, and that the concentrations of the conjugated estrogens were higher than those of the free estrogens.

Determination of steroid estrogens in wastewater by high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

“…The methodology described here obtained higher recovery of E1-3S compared to other studies; 10% influent and 49% for effluent [40]; 89% influent, 87% effluent and 93% for river water [37]; 87% laboratory water and 97% for surface water [30]. The method detection limit obtained was similar to that of Isobe et al [19] (one step cleanup using Florisil) for E1, E1-3S and EE2 of 0.1 ng l -1 , 0.1 ng l -1 and 0.2 ng l -1…”

Comparison of ethinylestradiol and nonylphenol effects on reproduction of Chinese rare minnows (Gobiocypris rarus)

“…In the case of EE 2 , for example, median concentrations ranged from 1 to 17 ng/L in sewage treatment effluents and ranged from below the detection limit to 15 ng/L in surface waters (Ternes et al, 1999;Komori et al, 2004;Liney et al, 2005). Therefore, a shortterm rare minnow reproduction assay with fecundity and fertility as endpoints would be feasible to screen effluents and surface waters.…”

“…17a-ethinylestradiol (EE 2 ), a synthetic estrogen, has an extensive distribution in the aquatic environment. Median concentrations of EE 2 ranged from 1 to 17 ng/L in sewage treatment effluents and ranged from below the detection limit to 15 ng/L in surface waters (Ternes et al, 1999;Komori et al, 2004;Liney et al, 2005). EE 2 has been shown to affect elements of the steroid hormone signaling pathway in vitro (Thorpe et al, 2003;Van den Belt et al, 2004) and disrupt endocrine systems in vivo ( Van den Belt et al, 2002;Nash et al, 2004;Palace et al, 2006).…”

Sorption of estrone and estrone‐3‐sulfate from CaCl2 solution and artificial urine in pastoral soils of New Zealand

“…The authors concluded that E1-3S may be one of the risk factors for endocrine disruption in wildlife because it can be deconjugated to E1. Deconjugation of estrogen sulfates forming their free counterparts in the environment has been reported before in sewer systems [10], wastewater treatment plants [13], and more recently in agricultural soils [14]. New Zealand's agricultural sector plays an important role in its overall economy, and dairy products accounted for nearly 18.5% of the annual exports in 2007 (Statistics New Zealand 2007; http://www.stats.govt.nz).…”