Synthetic estrogens, their presence in aquatic ecosystems and effects on biota

Abstract

Synthetic estrogens are endocrine disrupting compounds that might be in water bodies and, consequently, interfere in hormonal, metabolic and reproductive functions of organisms exposed. This study aims to analyze the international scientific literature about those chemicals through a systematic and narrative review. The investigated estrogens were 17a-ethinylestradiol (EE2), Mestranol (MeEE2), Diethylstilbestrol (DES) and Dienestrol (DNS), which are widely present in pharmaceuticals, consumed and disposed in the environment. For this review, only scientific papers, published from 1990 to 2019, were considered. They were collected in ScienceDirect, PubMed and Scielo online platforms. Introductory information about the compounds, such as their chemical characteristics and use in society were described, as their occurrence in aquatic ecosystems and effects on biota, reported by environmental assessments and ecotoxicological tests, respectively. According to this study, China is the major contributor in quantitative terms, counting 21 articles about synthetic estrogens. Some hormones demonstrated to be more investigated than others; moreover, the increasing of research about those emerging contaminants was noticed. Additionally, Brazilian water bodies revealed to have the highest concentrations, which should encourage critical thinking on its insufficient environmental management. The study also highlights the importance of scientific research expansion and its implementation on truly effective public policies for aquatic ecosystem conservation.