Abstract
Nonylphenol (NP) is an ultimate degradation product of nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPE) that is primarily used in cleaning and industrial processes. Its widespread use has led to the wide existence of NP in various environmental matrices, such as water, sediment, air and soil. NP can be decreased by biodegradation through the action of microorganisms under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Half-lives of biodegradation ranged from a few days to almost one hundred days. The degradation rate for NP was influenced by temperature, pH and additions of yeast extracts, surfactants, aluminum sulfate, acetate, pyruvate, lactate, manganese dioxide, ferric chloride, sodium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, heavy metals, and phthalic acid esters. Although NP is present at low concentrations in the environment, as an endocrine disruptor the risks of long-term exposure to low concentrations remain largely unknown. This paper reviews the occurrence of NP in the environment and its aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation in natural environments and sewage treatment plants, which is essential for assessing the potential risk associated with low level exposure to NP and other endocrine disruptors.
Highlights
Since the early 1990s, a lot of research has been performed concerning the endocrine disruptors which are widespread in the environment
The results showed that the NP concentrations in samples of most Asian countries were at a higher level in comparison to those reported in European countries, America and Japan
In a wastewater treatment plant many factors can influence the removal of NP, such as influent load, water quality of influents, plant configurations, hydraulic residence time (HRT), sludge retention time (SRT), biomass characteristics and the environmental conditions [50,52,53,55,56]
Summary
Since the early 1990s, a lot of research has been performed concerning the endocrine disruptors which are widespread in the environment. In China, the production of NPEs is about 50,000 tons per year, and most enters into the aquatic environment [1]. The wide variety in use makes products containing NPEs potential sources of diffuse emissions of NPEs and NP. Environment of the north-east Atlantic” called for phasing out the use of NPEs in domestic cleaning agents by 1995 and in industrial cleaning agents by 2000. Following these recommendations, many countries, such as Sweden, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Holland, etc., have drastically limited the use of NPEs. Switzerland has completely banned the use of these substances [4]. The production of NPEs in these countries was increased annually
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