Occurrence and fate of androgens in municipal wastewater treatment plants in China

Abstract

Public concerns about potential ecological risks of androgens discharged to the environment through wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has resulted in an increased interest regarding the occurrence and fate of androgens in WWTPs. In this study, the occurrence and removal of eight androgens from 12 municipal WWTPs distributed in eleven cities in China were investigated. The composition profiles of eight androgens in influent, effluent, and excess sludge were studied. Multiple factor analyses were performed to reveal the factors affecting the distribution of androgens in WWTP influent. Results showed similar composition profiles of androgens in the studied WWTPs, with androsterone and dehydroepiandrosterone confirmed as the dominant androgens. The distributions of androgens in WWTP influent were related to the chemical oxygen demand in influent and the gross domestic product (GDP) of WWTP-associated cities. The target androgens have high aqueous removal rates, with a mean removal rate of >90%. Additionally, the behaviors of androgens were evaluated by mass balance along anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (AAO) processes in a WWTP, in which many of the androgens were eliminated mainly in the anaerobic tank. Further, 15 biotransformation products of testosterone were identified under anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic sludge, respectively. Based on these metabolites, a general biotransformation pathway of testosterone under anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic sludge is presented.