Occurrence of Thyroid Hormone Activities in Drinking Water from Eastern China: Contributions of Phthalate Esters

Abstract

Thyroid hormone is essential for the development of humans. However, some synthetic chemicals with thyroid disrupting potentials are detectable in drinking water. This study investigated the presence of thyroid active chemicals and their toxicity potential in drinking water from five cities in eastern China by use of an in vitro CV-1 cell-based reporter gene assay. Waters were examined from several phases of drinking water processing, including source water, finished water from waterworks, tap water, and boiled tap water. To identify the responsible compounds, concentrations and toxic equivalents of a list of phthalate esters were quantitatively determined. None of the extracts exhibited thyroid receptor (TR) agonist activity. Most of the water samples exhibited TR antagonistic activities. None of the boiled water displayed the TR antagonistic activity. Dibutyl phthalate accounted for 84.0-98.1% of the antagonist equivalents in water sources, while diisobutyl phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate also contributed. Approximately 90% of phthalate esters and TR antagonistic activities were removable by waterworks treatment processes, including filtration, coagulation, aerobic biodegradation, chlorination, and ozonation. Boiling water effectively removed phthalate esters from tap water. Thus, this process was recommended to local residents to reduce certain potential thyroid related risks through drinking water.

Probabilistic ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in sediments from China’s major aquatic bodies

“…However, it is facing water shortage and pollution problems while water demand is continually increasing due to population growth and economic development (Shi et al 2012(Shi et al , 2011. The lakes including Taihu Lake, Chaohu Lake, and Dianchi Lake and the rivers including Liaohe River, Songhua River, and Yangtze River et al have been selected as the highpoint water bodies whose pollution issues have been paid special attentions to by the Ministry of Environmental Protection since the 8th Five Year Plan period of China.…”

Biotin-Streptavidin Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Determination of Dibutyl Phthalate in Beverages and Drinking Water Using a Specific Polyclonal Antibody

“…Moreover, numerous studies have shown that PAEs are widely distributed in aquatic environment and are frequently found in all sorts of waters (Shi et al 2012). In our lives, water (including drinking water and beverages) is commonly used as basic materials to maintain human life.…”

Carbon isotopic fractionation during biodegradation of phthalate esters in anoxic condition

“…PAEs have http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.12.063 0045-6535/Ó 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. been increasingly detected in municipal water supplies and groundwater, a major source of drinking water (Zhang et al, 2009;Liu et al, 2010;Shi et al, 2012). Because some PAEs are suspected endocrine-disrupting compounds, the occurrence of PAEs in water supplies has generated much attention.…”