Use of a Battery of Chemical and Ecotoxicological Methods for the Assessment of the Efficacy of Wastewater Treatment Processes to Remove Estrogenic Potency

Abstract

Endocrine Disrupting Compounds pose a substantial risk to the aquatic environment. Ethinylestradiol (EE2) and estrone (E1) have recently been included in a watch list of environmental pollutants under the European Water Framework Directive. Municipal wastewater treatment plants are major contributors to the estrogenic potency of surface waters. Much of the estrogenic potency of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents can be attributed to the discharge of steroid estrogens including estradiol (E2), EE2 and E1 due to incomplete removal of these substances at the treatment plant. An evaluation of the efficacy of wastewater treatment processes requires the quantitative determination of individual substances most often undertaken using chemical analysis methods. Most frequently used methods include Gas ChromatographyMass Spectrometry (GCMS/MS) or Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LCMS/MS) using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Although very useful for regulatory purposes, targeted chemical analysis can only provide data on the compounds (and specific metabolites) monitored. Ecotoxicology methods additionally ensure that any by-products produced or unknown estrogenic compounds present are also assessed via measurement of their biological activity. A number of in vitro bioassays including the Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) are available to measure the estrogenic activity of wastewater samples. Chemical analysis in conjunction with in vivo and in vitro bioassays provides a useful toolbox for assessment of the efficacy and suitability of wastewater treatment processes with respect to estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds. This paper utilizes a battery of chemical and ecotoxicology tests to assess conventional, advanced and emerging wastewater treatment processes in laboratory and field studies.

Microbial Community Composition and Antibiotic Resistance Genes within a North Carolina Urban Water System

“…Pharmaceuticals and antimicrobial compounds that are not fully metabolized or that are disposed of improperly make treated wastewater a significant source of pharmaceuticals in surface waters [7]. Significant effects of pharmaceuticals, including metformin, estrogens, and illegal drugs on native flora and fauna have recently been reported as well [8][9][10][11].…”

Assessment of Xenoestrogens in Jordanian Water System: Activity and Identification

“…Assays were conducted as described previously [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ] using yeast-based microplate assay (XenoScreen YES/YAS, Xenometrix, Switzerland). Briefly, minimal medium and medium components were prepared according to the manual.…”

Feminizing effects of ethinylestradiol in roach (Rutilus rutilus) populations with different estrogenic pollution exposure histories

“…Water samples were taken from each tank (EE2 and controls) at 2 month intervals throughout the 2-year exposure (16 sets of samples in total) and were treated as per Beresford et al (2016). Estrogenicity was quantified using the yeast estrogen screen (YES) and EE2 concentrations were confirmed by LCMS/MS (25% of samples) using standard protocols (Beresford et al, 2016). Results presented here for YES use EE2Eq, the response equivalent to the reference concentration of EE2.…”

“…To determine the effects of the laboratory exposure of EE2 on sexual development, the gonads of roach at the end of the 2-year exposure were processed, sectioned and stained for histopathological assessment and their developmental stages were assessed using standard histopathology methods and protocols (Beresford et al, 2016;Jobling et al, 2006;Nolan et al, 2001). This was done 'blind'; the researchers undertaking the analysis of histology did not know the treatement, genetic sex or parentage until all the histopathology was complete.…”