Meta-analysis of environmental contamination by alkylphenols

Abstract

Alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates (APE) are toxics classified as endocrine-disrupting compounds; they are used in detergents, paints, herbicides, pesticides, emulsifiers, wetting and dispersing agents, antistatic agents, demulsifiers, and solubilizers. Many studies have reported the occurrence of alkylphenols in different environmental matrices, though none of these studies have yet to establish a comprehensive overview of such compounds in the water cycle within an urban environment. This review summarizes APE concentrations for all environmental media throughout the water cycle, from the atmosphere to receiving waters. Once the occurrence of compounds has been assessed for each environmental compartment (urban wastewater, wastewater treatment plants [WWTP], atmosphere, and the natural environment), data are examined in order to understand the fate of APE in the environment and establish their geographical and historical trends. From this database, it is clear that the environment in Europe is much more contaminated by APE compared to North America and developing countries, although these APE levels have been decreasing in the last decade. APE concentrations in the WWTP effluent of developed countries have decreased by a factor of 100 over the past 30 years. This study is aimed at identifying both the correlations existing between environmental compartments and the processes that influence the fate and transport of these contaminants in the environment. In industrial countries, the concentrations observed in waterways now represent the background level of contamination, which provides evidence of a past diffuse pollution in these countries, whereas sediment analyses conducted in developing countries show an increase in APE content over the last several years. Finally, similar trends have been observed in samples drawn from Europe and North America.

Selective oxidation of aliphatic C–H bonds in alkylphenols by a chemomimetic biocatalytic system

“…1A) are among the most important synthetic precursors for manufacturing a vast variety of chemical products including detergents, polymers, lubricants, antioxidants, emulsifiers, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals (1). Alkylphenols are also priority environmental pollutants because they are toxic, xenoestrogenic, or carcinogenic to wildlife and humans (2,3). The selective oxidation of the aliphatic C-H bonds in alkylphenols serves significant roles not only in generation of functionalized intermediates for synthesizing more downstream products (4), but also in biological degradation of these environmentally hazardous compounds (5).…”

Impact of Environmental Contaminants on Breast Cancer / Wpływ Zanieczyszczenia Środowiska Na Raka Piersi

“…Alkylphenols (APs) and alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs), high-performance non-ionic surfactants, are used in detergents, paints, herbicides, pesticides, emulsifiers, wetting and dispersing agents, antistatic agents, emulsifiers and solubilizers, and according to toxicological data sheet are classified as endocrine-disrupting compounds [184]. Their estrogenic activities are mainly dependent on their binding affinity for the ERs in vitro and in vivo [185,186].…”

Degradation pathways of low-ethoxylated nonylphenols by isolated bacteria using an improved method

“…Bergé et al (2012a) found that total concentrations of NPEO and their metabolites (mainly low-ethoxylated NPEOs and low-ethoxylated NPECs) were 0.10-1,179 μg L −1 (mean, 4.54 μg L ) in surface water. Some biodegradation intermediates, such as NP and low-ethoxylated NPEOs (NP 1-3 EO), exhibit estrogenic properties, and therefore, the biotransformation pathways of NPEOs have been widely studied using isolated bacteria (John and White 1998;Liu et al 2006Liu et al , 2013Lu et al 2008;Sato et al 2001Sato et al , 2003Ying et al 2002).…”

“…Although the production of NPEOs has exhibited a decreasing trend in the USA, Canada, and the EU as a result of highly restrictive regulations (EU 2003;USEPA 2010), worldwide output increased from 300,000 t in 1994 to 500,000 t in 2002 (Berryman et al 2003;Ying et al 2002). The increase in consumption by emerging nations such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China has been considered as the main reason (Bergé et al 2012a).…”