Comment on “Identification of Estrogenic Chemicals in STW Effluent. 1. Chemical Fractionation and in Vitro Biological Screening”

Johnson, Andrew C.; Williams, Richard J.; Ulahannan, Thomas

doi:10.1021/es9809197

“…The highest concentrations detected by ELISA (4.1 ng/L in this study) and radioimmunoassay (3.7 ng/L [17]) are considerably lower than the highest concentrations determined by GC/MS or GC/MS/MS. Since some results from GC/MS analyses are considerably higher than estimated influent concentrations [13], it is possible that GC/MS sometimes overestimates hormone concentrations in wastewater. Furthermore, none of the wastewater samples, excluding reverse osmosis effluent, analyzed in this study contained hormones at concentrations below the method detection limits (0.1 ng/L).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the sensitivity of these techniques, accurate quantification is difficult because a high concentration factor is required, and natural organic matter in the concentrated extracts can interfere with analysis. As a result, some analyses have yielded concentrations of hormones considerably greater than concentrations predicted in wastewater influents [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of estrogenic hormones in municipal wastewater effluent and surface water using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Huang

¹

,

Sedlak

²

2001

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Although the estrogenic hormones 17 beta-estradiol and 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol can be quantified in polluted waters by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS), the compounds often are present at concentrations below detection limits. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) provide a sensitive and robust means of quantifying estrogenic hormones in wastewater effluents and surface waters. Results from ELISA analysis of estrogenic hormones in secondary wastewater effluent indicate concentrations comparable to those that cause vitellogenesis in fish. Confirmatory analyses by GC/MS/MS are consistent with ELISA results. Effluent filtration, using sand filtration or microfiltration, removes approx. 70% of the hormones from secondary effluent, while advanced treatment, using reverse osmosis, removes more than 95% of hormones. The detection limits for estrogenic hormones are approx. 0.1 ng/L in wastewater effluent and 0.05 ng/L in surface water. The ELISA technique provides a relatively simple and practical method of assessing the fate of estrogenic hormones in engineered and natural systems.

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“…However, analytical techniques capable of detecting the compounds at the concentrations expected in wastewater were unavailable. As a result, some analyses have yielded concentrations of hormones considerably greater than concentrations predicted in wastewater influents [13]. Despite the sensitivity of these techniques, accurate quantification is difficult because a high concentration factor is required, and natural organic matter in * To whom correspondence may be addressed (sedlak@ce.berkeley.edu).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Estrogenic Hormones in Municipal Wastewater Effluent and Surface Water Using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Gas Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Huang

¹

,

Sedlak

²

2001

Environ Toxicol Chem

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Although the estrogenic hormones 17 beta-estradiol and 17 alpha-ethinyl estradiol can be quantified in polluted waters by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS), the compounds often are present at concentrations below detection limits. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) provide a sensitive and robust means of quantifying estrogenic hormones in wastewater effluents and surface waters. Results from ELISA analysis of estrogenic hormones in secondary wastewater effluent indicate concentrations comparable to those that cause vitellogenesis in fish. Confirmatory analyses by GC/MS/MS are consistent with ELISA results. Effluent filtration, using sand filtration or microfiltration, removes approx. 70% of the hormones from secondary effluent, while advanced treatment, using reverse osmosis, removes more than 95% of hormones. The detection limits for estrogenic hormones are approx. 0.1 ng/L in wastewater effluent and 0.05 ng/L in surface water. The ELISA technique provides a relatively simple and practical method of assessing the fate of estrogenic hormones in engineered and natural systems.

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“…The values for normal men average from 2 to 25 µg [17]. Pregnant women can excrete up to 30 mg per day, but average values are around 250 µg/day [20]. Using these data, total amounts of excreted estradiol in western countries were estimated using a method where the populations sex distribution was assumed as 50:50 male:female.…”

Section: Estrogens and Progestogens Used For Humansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been proposed that because these substances are extremely lipophile, large portions are removed via sorptive processes in sewage treatment [20]. Another explanation may be that the significance of these substances as endocrine disruptors is still unclear and consequently they have been given little attention.…”

confidence: 99%

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products - A source of endocrine disruption in the environment?

Ingerslev

¹

,

Vaclavik

²

,

Halling-Sørensen

³

2003

Pure and Applied Chemistry

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A wide variety of chemicals are used in pharmaceuticals. Most of these are already under thorough control for endocrine activity. The main causal agents recognized for endocrine disruption from sewage are substances used in medicine (sex hormones, glucocorticoids, and others), natural substances (estrone and 17β-estradiol), and synthetic estrogens (e.g., 17α-ethinylestradiol). Similar substances are used in anabolic agents (growth hormones) in livestock production in some countries. Although the estimated use of anabolic agents in livestock production is approximately one order of magnitude below the natural release of estrogens from farm animals, their possible significance remains unanswered.At present, no other medical substances are recognized as endocrine disruptors in the environment. However, candidates may be identified on the basis of simple assumptions regarding their use and activity: (1) Nonestrogenic steroids may react with environmental endocrine receptors or metabolize on their way to the environment and thus form endocrine disruptors.(2) Many high-volume drugs released to the environment have not yet been tested for their endocrine properties, and some of these are known to interact with the human endocrine system. (3) Compared to medicinal substances, personal care products and additives in drugs are used in high amounts; from this group, parabens, siloxanes, and other substances are suspected of causing endocrine disruption in the environment.

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Comment on “Identification of Estrogenic Chemicals in STW Effluent. 1. Chemical Fractionation and in Vitro Biological Screening”

Cited by 8 publications

References 3 publications

Analysis of estrogenic hormones in municipal wastewater effluent and surface water using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Analysis of estrogenic hormones in municipal wastewater effluent and surface water using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Analysis of Estrogenic Hormones in Municipal Wastewater Effluent and Surface Water Using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Gas Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products - A source of endocrine disruption in the environment?

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