Occurrence of emerging contaminants and analysis of oestrogenic activity in the water and sediments from two coastal lagoons in south-eastern Brazil

Abstract

There is increasing concern in the scientific community regarding emerging contaminants in aquatic matrices because of the potential effects of these contaminants on aquatic biota. In recent decades, the Itaipu–Piratininga lagoon system has suffered a series of environmental impacts, among which water pollution stands out. In this context, the aim of this study was to analyse the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupters in water (dissolved and particulate phases) and in surface sediments, and their potential oestrogenic effects. Contaminant concentrations were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, whereas oestrogenic activity was evaluated using the yeast oestrogen screen assay. Of the 12 compounds analysed, concentrations of gemfibrozil, acetaminophen and diclofenac were below the limit of detection. The compounds with the highest detection frequency in the water were bisphenol A>4-octylphenol>naproxen>oestradiol, whereas in the sediment were bisphenol A>naproxen>oestradiol. Higher pharmaceutical concentrations and numbers of microcontaminants were observed in August 2017 (winter), which can be explained by the lower dilution and degradation capacity of these compounds during winter. Oestrogenic activity was observed in at least one of the three matrices (i.e. water (dissolved and particulate phases) and surface sediments) at all sampling stations and in both sampling campaigns (January and August 2017). Combined with data in the literature data, the results of this study indicate probable adverse effects of contaminants on aquatic organisms of this lagoon system.