The Chronic POEDCs Ecotoxicological Impact: An Aquatic Environmental Indicator of Surface and Groundwater

Abstract

The occurrence and persistence of anthropogenic pollutants in the environment showing estrogenic-endocrine modulating effects in aquatic organisms is a “hot” issue of major health- and environment-related concern worldwide. The population growth and the increasing scarcity of water in many regions of the world have led to a comprehensive reuse of treated wastewater that, ultimately, may cause a long-term concentration buildup of many toxic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the closed cycle of water supply and wastewater treatment and reuse. The endocrinic/mutagenic potencies of the EDCs-branched chain alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their metabolites are well-documented. From ~5.5 × 108 m3/year of sewage produced in Israel, ~70 % are reused, following a conventional, or advanced, activated sludge or sand aquifer treatment (SAT). A major related question is: Does this practice conform to sustainability? Our studies reveal that (a) the concentrations of APEOs and PAHs in Israel rivers and sediments do pose a potential health risk problem; and (b) the synergistic ecotoxicological impact of environmentally relevant mixtures of these POPs, in WWTP effluents, constitutes an inconsistency, health-wise, with sustainability practice.