Sorption of estrogens estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, and diethylstilbestrol on sediment affected by different origins

Abstract

The sorption coefficients of estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and diethylstilbestrol (DES) on four sediments (BS1-4) collected downstream of agricultural, domestic, and industrial discharges were determined. The objective was to investigate the effect of sediment origin on the sorption affinity of natural and synthetic estrogens on sediments. Experimental results indicate that the sediment samples from different origins had differing estrogen sorption affinities. Organic materials in sediment samples collected from downstream of agricultural and domestic discharge, i.e., BS1 and BS2, respectively, were readily biodegraded and biotransformed during sediment diagenesis, which enhanced the sorption capacity for estrogens. Sediment samples BS3 and BS4, which were obtained downstream of domestic and industrial discharges, respectively, may contain complex compositions, including hydrophilic substances that resulted in lower log K(oc) values. The estrogen sorption on sediments was reasonably regressive with linear models. The log K(oc) values for individual estrogens in individual sediments showed variation: 2.82-4.21 for E1; 2.73-4.14 for E2; 2.19-3.76 for E3; 3.24-3.94 for EE2; and, 4.07-5.25 for DES. Nevertheless, the relationship between log K(ow) and log K(oc) of individual estrogens in individual sediments was linear. The mean log K(oc) values for target estrogens followed the trend of DES (4.68) > EE2 (3.71) > E2 (3.52) > E1 (3.44) > E3 (2.99), corresponding to the trend of log K(ow) values. These analytical results suggest that sorption of estrogens on sediments varied with sample origin. Therefore, evaluations of the fate and transport of estrogens in river environments must consider surrounding agricultural, domestic, and industrial sources.

Halogenated 17β‐Estradiol Surrogates: Synthesis, Estrogenic Activity, and Initial Investigations of Fate in Soil/Water Systems

“…For example, Lee et al (2003) reported log( K oc ) values for E2 that ranged from 3.21 to 3.46. This similarity in the sorption values lends support to the assumption that although degradates were present, they retained similar sorption properties compared with the parent compounds (Chen et al, 2012; Holthaus et al, 2002). Furthermore, as each experiment progressed, the sorption parameters increased in the same manner through time (Fig.…”

“…Aqueous concentrations (C; mole L −1 ) for [ 14 C]E2 and the [ 14 C]brominated‐E2 congeners were measured directly, and their sorbed concentrations (S; mole kg −1 ) were determined by difference for all time points; that is, radiochemical mass not measured in solution was assumed to be bound to the soil. Although the supporting data indicated that degradates had formed by Day 2 in the aqueous layer, other sorption studies for steroid estrogens reasonably assumed that degradates retain a steroidal structure and therefore possess similar physicochemical properties (e.g., water solubility) and soil sorption interactions as the parent estrogen (Chen et al, 2012; Holthaus et al, 2002). The sorption coefficients determined at earlier sample times should primarily reflect the parent estrogen.…”

Nevertheless, They Persisted: Can Hyporheic Zones Increase the Persistence of Estrogens in Streams?

“…The range of partition coefficients for E2 was based on a combination of previously determined parameters using experimental geochemical data derived from samples at the ASREC field site and soils from other agricultural sites (Mashtare, 2013). The range of partition coefficients for E1 was based on literature values as there was insufficient data from the ASREC field site (T. C. Chen et al., 2012; Gall et al., 2016). Given the significant uncertainty in estimating site‐specific rate constants, we used the range of partition coefficients for model calibration (Table 1), and the best fit parameter set was used in our simulation scenarios.…”

Sorption and desorption of sex hormones in soil- and sediment-water systems: A review

“…In this case, significant correlations between logK oc (or logK d ) and logK ow values of the sex hormones have sometimes been suggested as evidence of hydrophobic partitioning interaction driving sorption (i.e., hydrophobicity-dominated sorption) (Zhang et al, 2011;Yang et al, 2019b;Yang et al, 2020c). For example, Chen et al (2012) found that the sorption magnitudes of 4 estrogens in soil-water systems were positively correlated with their logK ow values (R 2 > 0.92, p < 0.01). Yang et al (2020c) reported that the logK oc values of 7 progestins were significantly correlated with their logK ow values (logK oc = 0.30 logK ow + 1.91, R 2 = 0.70, p < 0.01).…”