Concentrations Of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds Research Articles

Metamorphosis alters concentrations of bioaccumulated pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors in caddisflies: Implications for transfer of aquatic–terrestrial subsidies

Abstract Aquatic insects serve as vital inter‐habitat linkages between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, as their life cycle includes both aquatic and terrestrial stages. They facilitate the flow of energy and nutrients and play an important role in the transport of waterborne contaminants to terrestrial environments. This study focused on the under‐investigated environmental fate of emerging contaminants (ECs), particularly pharmaceuticals (PhACs) and endocrine‐disrupting compounds (EDCs), which originate from wastewater effluents and accumulate in aquatic insects. Using an in situ study of a highly abundant caddisfly species (Trichoptera), Silo nigricornis (Pictet, 1834), inhabiting a wastewater‐impacted drainage ditch, we examined the bioaccumulation and bioamplification of PhACs and EDCs across the aquatic and terrestrial life stages of the caddisfly. We observed variations in the highest concentrations of PhACs and EDCs in different sample types, including water, biofilm and different life stages of S. nigricornis. Adult S. nigricornis exhibited the highest total concentrations of ECs among the different life stages, with 17 different ECs bioaccumulated in caddisfly tissues. Most of these ECs had higher concentrations in terrestrial adults compared to aquatic larvae and pupae. The total concentration of ECs increased significantly with development, revealing a 41% higher concentration in adult terrestrial caddisflies compared to pupae and larvae. Bioamplification factors provided insights into the increased body burden of the majority of compounds during at least one stage of metamorphosis in S. nigricornis. Evidence of bioamplification was observed in both metamorphosis stages, with certain compounds, such as antibiotics (azithromycin and tilmicosin), endocrine disruptors (TCPP – tris[1‐chloro‐2‐propyl]phosphate and parabens; methylparaben, propylparaben), consistently exhibiting increased concentrations from larval to pupal and from pupal to adult stages. The observed pattern of increasing body burden of contaminants during the caddisfly life cycle emphasises the effects of metamorphosis on the concentration of PhACs and EDCs in adult holometabolous aquatic insects. Our results emphasise the importance of adult caddisflies for the transport of waterborne contaminants such as PhACs and EDCs from aquatic to terrestrial environments. Therefore, our results emphasise the need to include adult trichopterans in the assessment of habitat quality, as their influence extends beyond the boundaries of the aquatic ecosystem.

Distribution and source apportionment of phenolic EDCs in rivers in the Pearl River Delta, South China.

The sources and distribution characteristics of three phenolic endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), e.g., alkylphenols (APs) (including nonylphenols (NPs) and 4-t-octylphenol (OP)) and Bisphenol A (BPA), were investigated in the rivers of the Pearl River Delta Region (PRDR) with complex land-use types. The mean concentrations of NPs, OP, and BPA in river water including wet and dry seasons were 87, 6, and 74ng/L in the agricultural regions (n = 10), 135, 7, and 61ng/L in the transitional regions (n = 8), and 249, 15, and 152ng/L in the urban regions (n = 28). Contents of NPs and BPA were high in the river sediments (ranged from 7 to 3048ng/g and 2 to 271ng/g, respectively). Equilibriumanalysis results suggested that sediment release was not the main source of the river EDCs. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that sewage was the major source of EDCs in the dry season, while the leaching effect of rainfall on the agricultural soils, urban roads, and commercial products was an important source in the wet season. Furthermore, the ratio of APs and total concentration of phenolic EDCs (ΣEDCs) was used to characterize the agricultural regions and urban regions in the PRDR. The ratio was less than 0.6 in the agricultural regions while the ratio was large than 0.6 in the dry season and less than 0.6 in the wet season in urban regions. BPA and NPs in transitional region and urban region had small/medium potential risk to aquatic organisms.

Assessment of automated off-line solid-phase extraction LC-MS/MS to monitor EPA priority endocrine disruptors in tap water, surface water, and wastewater.

EPA method 539.1 recently introduced an expanded list of priority endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), some of which were also included in the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 3 (UCMR3). Though standardized methods are available for drinking water, analysis of steroid hormones and bisphenol A (BPA) at the ultra-trace level remains challenging. This study set out to evaluate the suitability of automated off-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) for the determination of EPA-priority EDCs in environmental water matrixes (tap water, surface water, and wastewater influents and effluents). The target molecules included 14 steroid hormones (altrenogest, androstenedione, equilenin, equilin, α-estradiol, β-estradiol, estriol, estrone, ethinylestradiol, levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, norethindrone, progesterone, testosterone) and BPA. Factors that may influence the analytical performance were assessed. This involved, for instance, testing combinations of SPE materials from different brands and protocol variations. Several materials presented absolute extraction efficiencies in acceptable ranges. Initial sample pH, nature of reconstitution medium, and mobile phase salt concentration were among the potential factors affecting analyte signal. Storage conditions (different preservative agents) possibly exerted the strongest influence, in agreement with the literature. Limits of detection were in the range of 0.03-0.5ng/L in drinking water, 0.1-0.5ng/L in surface water, and 0.16-1ng/L in wastewater. Method validation also involved testing linearity, accuracy, and precision in reagent water and matrix-matched extracted calibrants. The method was applied to field-collected water samples in Eastern Canada. Summed EDC concentrations remained low in tap water (<LOQ-0.92ng/L), while higher detection frequencies and contamination levels were reported in riverine surface waters (2.6-37ng/L) and municipal wastewaters (10-424ng/L).

Occurrence and seasonal distribution of steroid hormones and bisphenol A in surface waters and suspended sediments of Quebec, Canada

Limited information is available regarding the seasonal and spatial distribution of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in Canadian surface waters. Using improved analytical methods, we set out to evaluate the occurrence and risks of 15 EPA-priority EDCs in the St. Lawrence River and its main tributaries (69 locations). Surface water samples were also collected during a complete seasonal cycle along the Mille Iles River (17 locations), a tributary impacted by wastewater effluents and sewer overflows. In total, 137 surface water samples were analyzed for steroid hormones (altrenogest, androstenedione, equilin, equilenin, ethinylestradiol, α-estradiol, β-estradiol, estriol, estrone, levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, norethindrone, progesterone, testosterone) and bisphenol A, in both the dissolved phase and suspended particulate matter (SPM). Of the 15 targeted EDCs, 14 compounds presented positive detections in the dissolved phase and 13 in the SPM. Summed EDC concentrations were reported in the range of 0.4–73 ng L−1 in dissolved phase samples and 0.1–228 ng g−1 in SPM samples. Bisphenol A was rarely detected in the dissolved phase but accumulated at high levels in suspended solids. Summed concentrations of hormones were generally higher during the spring and winter seasons, and lower during the summer. Estradiol (β-E2) presented the most frequent exceedances to the predicted no-effect concentration threshold (28/137 samples above the PNEC, or 20%), while a few exceedances were also reported for ethinylestradiol (4/137 above the PNEC, or 3%). The total estrogenic activity (EEQtotal) was higher than the threshold of 1 ng E2 L−1 for 26/137 samples, with estriol (E3) and β-E2 the preponderant contributors.

Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds: An Overview on Their Occurrence in the Aquatic Environment and Human Exposure

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) as emerging contaminants have accumulated in the aquatic environment at concentration levels that have been determined to be significant to humans and animals. Several compounds belong to this family, from natural substances (hormones such as estrone, 17-estradiol, and estriol) to synthetic chemicals, especially pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and plastic-derived compounds (phthalates, bisphenol A). In this review, we discuss recent works regarding EDC occurrence in the aquatic compartment, strengths and limitations of current analytical methods used for their detection, treatment technologies for their removal from water, and the health issues that they can trigger in humans. Nowadays, many EDCs have been identified in significant amounts in different water matrices including drinking water, thus increasing the possibility of entering the food chain. Several studies correlate human exposure to high concentrations of EDCs with serious effects such as infertility, thyroid dysfunction, early puberty, endometriosis, diabetes, and obesity. Although our intention is not to explain all disorders related to EDCs exposure, this review aims to guide future research towards a deeper knowledge of EDCs’ contamination and accumulation in water, highlighting their toxicity and exposure risks to humans.

Bioaccumulation of phenolic endocrine disruptors in the clam Rangia cuneata: Storage in shells and influence of size and sex

This study aimed to investigate the sequestration of phenolic endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as bisphenol A (BPA), 4-t-octylphenol (4-t-OP), and 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) in the shells of the mature clam Rangia cuneata from the Vistula Lagoon (southern Baltic Sea) and to determine the influence of sex and shell length on bioaccumulation of these contaminants. Even though there is broad interest in EDCs influences on aquatic organisms, these basic parameters are poorly understood, yet necessary for assessing environmental risks for clams. Average proportions of the total body burden (ng/individual) deposited in shells of R. cuneata were more than 70% for BPA and 4-NP and up to 32% for 4-t-OP. These results indicate that shell storage can be an important route for elimination of specific EDCs. Relationships between EDCs concentrations and the size and sex of R. cuneata indicate that females and large individuals experience greater exposures to the adverse effects of these pollutants than males and smaller clams. This effect could have significant impacts on population ecology and ultimately affect the entire ecosystem, in which bivalves play an important role. In the context of using clams to assess water pollution, the co-variation of EDCs concentrations with the size and sex of bivalves could influence the quality of monitoring data, unless accounted for in sampling design and data analysis.

Legislation against endocrine-disrupting compounds in drinking water: essential but not enough to ensure water safety.

Since the last several decades, there has been a growing concern on the presence of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in potable water due to their negative impacts on public health of mankind. As such, more and more EDCs have been regulated in many national drinking water quality standards. Given this situation, this work attempted to deliberately offer new insights into some remaining scientific challenges, i.e., (1) what should the allowable EDC concentration be in drinking water?; (2) should the main chlorinated byproducts of EDCs be regulated in potable water?; and (3) what concentration should be regulated for each chlorinated EDC? It is expected that these could help to better design the water quality regulations for EDCs.

Endocrine disrupting compounds in the middle and lower reaches of the Lhasa River Basin: Occurrence, distribution, and risk assessment

The contamination of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in frigid alpine areas is poorly understood compared with that in industrialized regions. In this study, the occurrence, distribution, and risk assessment of EDCs were investigated in the middle and lower reaches of the Lhasa River Basin in the Tibetan Plateau. Eight EDCs were analyzed in samples of surface water, sediment, natural soils, and farmland soils during the dry season and rainy season. Bisphenol A (BPA) and estriol were the most frequently detected compounds. The EDCs concentrations in the sediment and surface water varied with the rainy and dry seasons. The BPA concentration in the surface water of the lower reaches in the dry season was higher than that in the rainy season, which could be attributed to the low dilution by low water flow in the dry season and high degree of urbanization and industrialization in the lower reaches. The estradiol equivalents of EDCs in the surface water were below the predicted no-effect concentration (2 ng/L) of 17β-estradiol in the two seasons. Compared with other research results in the world, EDCs contamination in the Lhasa River Basin is at relatively low levels, and the risk in the middle and lower reaches of the Lhasa River Basin is generally low.

Endocrine disrupting compounds, pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the aquatic environment of China: Which chemicals are the prioritized ones?

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been of great concern as emerging contaminants of aquatic environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify top contaminants so as to allocate better management measures. A list of 77 pharmaceuticals, 20 personal care products (PCPs) and 36 EDCs that were frequently detected in Chinese surface waters was examined in this study. The reported chemicals were concentrated in the highly populated and industrialized areas of China (e.g. the Bohai region, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta). The concentrations of EDCs and PPCPs were closely related to human domestic sewage and industrial wastewater discharge, and they were generally higher than or at least comparable to most of global rivers. Based on the proximity between the medians of reported exposure concentrations and effect concentrations, the risk ranking results showed that EDCs, e.g. estrone (E1), estriol (E3), 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), and PCPs, e.g. triclocarban (TCC), triclosan (TCS), were deemed to represent higher risks to aquatic organisms across China, as well as the Northern rivers (including the Bohai region), Yangtze River Basin, and Pearl River Basin. Pharmaceuticals posed relatively lower risks to organisms owing to their higher effect concentrations. By comparison, the Northern rivers were hotspots where many chemicals were identified as posing greater risks than the Yangtze River Basin and Pearl River Basin. Fish was the most sensitive taxa to 17β-estradiol (βE2) and EE2, which was almost 100,000 times higher risk than algae and worms. Atrazine (ATZ) and galaxolide (HHCB), posed comparably higher risks to algae and worms. The results of this work provide a sound guidance for future monitoring and management of chemicals in China.

Quantification of multi-classes of endocrine-disrupting compounds in estuarine water

Emerging pollutants known as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are a contemporary global issue, especially in aquatic ecosystems. As aquaculture production through mariculture activities in Malaysia supports food production, the concentration and distribution of EDCs in estuarine water ecosystems may have changed. Therefore, this current study aims to prepare a suitable and reliable method for application on environmental samples. Besides, this study also presented the occurrence of EDCs pollutant in Pulau Kukup, Johor, where the biggest and most active mariculture site in Malaysia takes place. Analytical methods based on a combination of solid-phase extraction with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (Solid-phase extraction (SPE)-LC-MS/MS) have been modified and optimised to examine the level of targeted EDCs contaminant. In the current study, this method displays high extraction recovery for targeted EDCs, ranging from 92.02% to 132.32%. The highest concentration detected is diclofenac (<0.47–79.89 ng/L) followed by 17β-estradiol (E2) (<5.28–31.43 ng/L) and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) (<0.30–7.67 ng/L). The highest percentage distribution for the targeted EDCs in the current study is diclofenac, followed by EE2 and dexamethasone with the percentages of 99.44%, 89.53% and 73.23%, respectively. This current study can be a baseline assessment to understand the pollution profile of EDCs and their distribution in the estuarine water of the mariculture site throughout the world, especially in Malaysia. Owing to the significant concentration of targeted EDCs detected in water samples, the need for further monitoring in the future is required.

Bioaccumulation of endocrine disrupting compounds in fish with different feeding habits along the largest subtropical river, China

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are becoming an increasing concern regarding bioaccumulation in aquatic biota. However, the effects of regional pollution levels and specific feeding habits on the bioaccumulation of EDCs in fish are rarely reported. 4-Nonylphenol (4-NP), bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP), triclocarban (TCC) and triclosan (TCS) were determined in abiotic compartments [water, sediment, suspended particulate matter (SPM)] and fish with different feeding habits along the Pearl River, China. EDCs in abiotic compartments exhibited significant (p < 0.05) spatial variations, forming five zones clustered based on site-specific EDC concentrations. 4-NP was the dominant compound, contributing 58–98% of the EDCs in fish, followed by BPA (<41%), 4-t-OP (<13%), and TCC and TCS (<4.7%). The concentrations of 4-NP and 4-t-OP, BPA, and TCC and TCS were the highest in brackish carnivorous, planktivorous, and detritivorous fish, respectively. The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) showed that 4-NP accumulated (BAF > 5000) in all fish except for suck-feeding detritivores, while 4-t-OP and TCC accumulated in filter-feeding planktivores. The concentration of 4-NP in carnivores was significantly higher than that in detritivores, indicating the potential biomagnification of 4-NP along food chains. EDCs in sediment and SPM and those in water were most positively correlated with those in detritivores and planktivores, respectively, suggesting the potential of fish with these two feeding habits to act as bioindicators of EDC pollutants.

Analysis of Environmental Protection Agency priority endocrine disruptor hormones and bisphenol A in tap, surface and wastewater by online concentration liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

The list of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) defined under U.S. EPA Method 539 was recently expanded to include additional hormones and bisphenol A (BPA). Here, we validated a fast and robust alternative method compliant with Method 539.1 requirements in diverse water matrixes (i.e., ultra-pure water, tap water, surface water, and wastewater influent and effluent). Automated large volume injection solid phase extraction (SPE) coupled on-line to ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was investigated for this purpose. The surveyed molecules included 13 EPA-priority hormones (testosterone, progesterone, medroxyprogesterone, levonorgestrel, norethindrone, androstenedione, estrone, β-estradiol, α-estradiol, equilin, equilenin, ethinylestradiol, estriol) and BPA. Combinations of ionization source and mobile phases were optimized for improved sensitivity. Suitable chromatographic performances were obtained and the implementation of an on-line SPE washing step consecutive to sample loading was investigated. On-line SPE extraction efficiencies in acceptable ranges (64–79%) and detection limits in the order of nanogram per liter or sub-nanogram per liter were obtained. The linearity range extended over 2–3 orders of magnitude, with determination coefficients (R2) typically > 0.9980. Robust precision and trueness complying with acceptance criteria (70–130%) were obtained for the scope of analytes/matrix combinations. Limited internal standard variations were also observed across samples (±18%), well within the ±50% acceptance criterion. The method was successfully applied to field-collected samples in Canada and summed EDC concentrations were reported in the range of 0.80–2.8 ng L−1, 6.8–19 ng L−1, 260–790 ng L−1, and 37–360 ng L−1 in tap water, surface water, effluent and influent wastewater samples, respectively.

Potential threats to smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the Juniata River Basin, Pennsylvania, USA

The Susquehanna River basin is one of the largest and most diverse watersheds in the northeastern United States, however, its historically renowned Micropterus dolomieu (smallmouth bass–SMB) fishery has been in decline since the mid-2000s. Agricultural herbicide runoff has been identified as a major risk for Susquehanna basin SMB populations given their effects as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). During the summers of 2016 and 2017, we assessed potential threats to SMB populations in 11 tributaries to the Juniata River, the second largest tributary to the Susquehanna River. Passive water samplers were installed for 38–39 days in ecologically important tributaries to quantify six common herbicides, and SMB were collected from nine sites in 2016 and 2017 to assess their health and morphology. Our passive water samplers showed markedly higher EDC concentrations than has previously been documented in the Juniata basin, with atrazine occurring at all sites and in the highest concentrations (11.09–91.02 ng/L). SMB blood samples revealed complete prevalence (100%) of vitellogenin, an egg protein precursor, in male fishes further confirming previous rates male vitellogenisis. Additionally, SMB hepatosomatic index (HSI) was statistically higher in female SMB than in male SMB (P < 0.001), and higher than many previous regional SMB studies further highlighting a contaminant-based stressor. Finally, a geometric morphometric analysis of SMB body shape indicated morphologies to be significantly site-based. Morphological differences were in line with the ram-suction feeding continuum, further revealing potential vulnerability in SMB sub-populations where EDCs may alter food web dynamics and prey availability. Overall, our study of the Juniata River Basin highlights high EDC concentrations alongside high rates of male vitellogenisis and elevated HSI, and proposes novel theory for morphological vulnerability in SMB sub-populations.

Endocrine-disrupting compounds in the Xiangjiang River of China: Spatio-temporal distribution, source apportionment, and risk assessment

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) were seasonally investigated in the surface water of the Xiangjiang River (south China) in order to understand their spatio-temporal distribution, source apportionment, and ecological risks. The occurrence of 21 EDCs were determined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in the water samples collected along the river over four seasons, and the results were statistically analyzed. The concentrations of progestagens, androgens, estrogens ranged from not detected (ND) to 98.3 ng L−1; while the concentrations of alkylphenols ranged from 0.8 to 3.1 × 103 ng L−1; and that of caffeine ranged from 0.1 to 49.8 ng L−1. The detection frequencies of bisphenol A, 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-n-nonylphenol, estrone, and 17β-estradiol were 95–100% during the four sampling campaigns. The seasonal and spatial variation trend of EDCs in the Xiangjiang River was noticeable. The concentration of EDCs in Yueyang section (downstream) was the highest in winter, while the concentration in Yongzhou (upstream) section was the lowest in spring. The concentration of EDCs in the Xiangjiang River was significantly correlated with the levels of the total organic carbon, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen. Source analysis indicated that untreated sewage was the major source of EDCs. Furthermore, the potential risks of EDCs in the surface water to aquatic organisms were assessed with the risk quotient method (European Commission, 2003), and the results indicated the highest ecological risk of 17β-estradiol in the Xiangjiang River.

Environmental toxic Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs): Effects on environment, animal production and human

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) encompass a variety of chemical classes, including several different categories of substances. Some are natural, such as plant oestrogens and mycoestrogens, while most are chemically composed. Residues are found in water, in sewage sludge, in the atmosphere and in foodstuff of vegitative or animal origin. The most common compounds include organochlorine pesticides, alkyl phenols, pthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Their properties render some as ubiquitous and persistent in the environment, they can be transported long distances and have been found in virtually all regions of the world. Their sources can vary from direct, such as effluents from wastewater, sewage, industrial sludge processes or agricultural effluents, to indirect, such as filtering agricultural soils, transportation through rain or air from civil and industrial centers to rivers and the surrounding environment. Others are rapidly degraded in the environment or human body or may be present for only short periods of time, but at critical periods of development. Although in low concentrations, the continuous exposure of animals of many species, including humans, induces adverse effects, such as disruption of reproductive function and of the immune system, as well as carcinogenic effects. The effects are obvious in wildlife, especially fish, and laboratory experiments. Sex change (feminizing) in fish has been observed, sexual differentiation in rats, egg shelling thinning, thyroid function disruption and mental and physical function disruption in wildlife. Most important and common is the disruption in the reproductive and the immune system of animals. As far as humans are concerned, reduction in sperm count and sperm quality has been heavily linked with EDC exposure, and furthermore, suspicions arise linking several cancer incident increments, such as testicular cancer, to EDC exposure. Still, although it is clear that many environmental chemicals can interfere with normal hormonal processes, there is weak evidence that human health can be adversely and directly affected by exposure to endocrine active chemicals. However, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that adverse endocrine mediated effects have occurred in wildlife species and laboratory studies exist to support these conclusions. The routes of exposure are numerous. Food is a common route of exposure, especially in younger animals that consume food containing higher fat percentages (e.g. milk). Soil is another route of exposure. Thus grazing animals tend to have a higher risk factor, due to surface soil pollution with EDCs. A vegetative nutrition with EDC residues is another high risk factor for these animals. On the other hand, animals bred with forage tend to be at lower risk factor, given that food is tested for low levels of EDCs. Water intake is not considered a significant route of exposure. EDCs possess the ability to act as either hormone agonists or antagonists or disrupt hormone synthesis, storage or metabolism. Due to their persistence in the environment, they are concentrated in fat tissue and are released when the fat is mobilized duringpregnancy or lactation, thus exposing embryos and neonates, which are very susceptible at this stage of development, to high concentrations of EDCs. The concerns that arise regarding the exposure to these EDCs are due primarily to:- these adverse effects observed in certain wildlife, fish and ecosystems- the increased incidences of certain endocrine-related human diseases and- endocrine disruption resulting from exposure to certain environmental chemicals observed in laboratory experimental animals.

Endocrine disrupting compounds in streams in Israel and the Palestinian West Bank: Implications for transboundary basin management

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) frequently enter surface waters via discharges from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as well as from industrial and agricultural activities, creating environmental and health concerns. In this study, selected EDCs were measured in water and sediments along two transboundary streams flowing from the Palestinian Authority (PA) into Israel (the Zomar-Alexander and Hebron-Beer Sheva Streams). We assessed how the complicated conflict situation between Israel and the PA and the absence of a coordinated strategy and joint stream management commission influence effective EDC control. Both streams receive raw Palestinian wastewater in their headwaters, which flows through rural areas and is treated via sediment settling facilities after crossing the 1949 Armistice Agreement Line. Four sampling campaigns were conducted over two years, with concentrations of selected EDCs measured in both the water and the sediments. Results show asymmetrical pollution profiles due to socio-economic differences and contrasting treatment capacities. No in-stream attenuation was observed along the stream and in the sediments within the Palestinian region. After sediment settling in treatment facilities at the Israeli border, however, significant reductions in the EDC concentrations were measured both in the sediments and in the water. Differences in sedimentation technologies had a substantial effect on EDC removal at the treatment location, positively affecting the streams' ability to further remove EDCs downstream. The prevailing approach to addressing the Israeli-Palestinian transboundary wastewater contamination reveals a narrow perspective among water managers who on occasion only take local interests into consideration, with interventions focused solely on improving stream water quality in isolated segments. Application of the “proximity principle” through the establishment of WWTPs at contamination sources constitutes a preferable strategy for reducing contamination by EDCs and other pollutants to ensure minimization of public health risks due to the pollution of streams and underlying potable groundwater.

Occurrence and ecological risk assessment of emerging organic chemicals in urban rivers: Guangzhou as a case study in China

Urban rivers may receive contamination from various sources including point sources like domestic sewage and nonpoint sources (e.g., runoff), resulting in contamination with various chemicals. This study investigated the occurrence of emerging organic contaminants (3 endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), and 17 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs)) in six urban rivers of a representative subtropical city, Guangzhou (southern China). Our results showed that EDCs and personal care products were frequently detected in the water phase and sediment phase. 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) was the most predominant compound with the highest concentration of 5050ng/L in the water phase and 14,400ng/g dry weight (dw) in the sediment. Generally, higher total concentrations of EDCs and PPCPs were detected in the four urban streams compared to the main stream Zhujiang River and the Liuxi River at the suburb area. A screening-level risk assessment showed that 4-nonylphenol and triclosan (TCS) pose potential risks to aquatic organisms in most sampling sites. For individual taxa, 4-NP may pose risks to various groups of aquatic organisms, while TCS only might pose high risks to algae. CapsuleHigher contamination of EDCs and PPCPs was observed in rivers in urban area; 4-nonylphenol and triclosan showed RQs>1 in >70% of the reported area.

The effects of fipronil and the photodegradation product fipronil desulfinyl on growth and gene expression in juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, at different salinities

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are now widely established to be present in the environment at concentrations capable of affecting wild organisms. Although many studies have been conducted in fish, less is known about effects in invertebrates such as decapod crustaceans. Decapods are exposed to low concentrations of EDCs that may cause infertility, decreased growth, and developmental abnormalities. The objective herein was to evaluate effects of fipronil and its photodegradation product fipronil desulfinyl. Fipronil desulfinyl was detected in the eggs of the decapod Callinectes sapidus sampled off the coast of South Carolina. As such, to examine specific effects on C. sapidus exposed in early life, we exposed laboratory-reared juveniles to fipronil and fipronil desulfinyl for 96h at three nominal concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 0.5μg/l) and two different salinities (10, 30ppt). The size of individual crabs (weight, carapace width) and the expression of several genes critical to growth and reproduction were evaluated. Exposure to fipronil and fipronil desulfinyl resulted in significant size increases in all treatments compared to controls. Levels of expression for vitellogenin (Vtg), an egg yolk precursor, and the ecdysone receptor (EcR), which binds to ecdysteroids that control molting, were inversely correlated with increasing fipronil and fipronil desulfinyl concentrations. Effects on overall growth and on the expression of EcR and Vtg differ depending on the exposure salinity. The solubility of fipronil is demonstrated to decrease considerably at higher salinities. This suggests that fipronil and its photodegradation products may be more bioavailable to benthic organisms as salinity increases, as more chemical would partition to tissues. Our findings suggest that endocrine disruption is occurring through alterations to gene expression in C. sapidus populations exposed to environmental levels of fipronil, and that effects may be dependent upon the salinity at which exposure occurs.

Monitoring of Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in Surface Water and Sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, China.

Occurrence and distribution of eight selected endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), including estrone (E1), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), 17α-estradiol (αE2), 17β-estradiol (βE2), estriol (E3), bisphenol A (BPA), 4-nonylphenol (NP), and 4-octylphenol (OP), were investigated in surface water and sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir region (TGRR). The mean concentrations of E1, αE2, βE2, E3, EE2, BPA, NP, and OP were 10.3, 3.3, 3.7, 17.2, 7.8, 26.6, 10.8, and 32.3ngL-1 respectively in surface water and 2.6, 4.1, 7.7, 2.4, 11.8, 17.4, 5.0, and 5.3ngg-1 dry weight (dw) respectively in sediments. BPA, NP, and OP were the main EDCs in both media. Distributions of EDCs in surface water and sediments varied significantly in space but not synchronously. The higher EDCs abundance was found in the upstream water of the TGRR. EDCs concentrations in sediments had no correlations with those in water and the total organic carbon content in sediments. EDCs presented low to high risks in the water, and steroidal estrogens were the main contributors to the total estrogenic activities.

Distribution, potential sources and ecological risks of two persistent organic pollutants in the intertidal sediment at the Shuangtaizi Estuary, Bohai Sea of China

Spatial distribution, source apportionment, and potential ecological risks of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and seven endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the intertidal sediment at the Shuangtaizi Estuary, Bohai Sea of China were analyzed. Results showed that the total PAH concentrations ranged from 28.79ngg−1 dw to 281.97ngg−1 dw (mean: 115.92ngg−1 dw) and the total EDC concentrations from 0.52ngg−1 dw to 126.73ngg−1 dw (mean: 37.49ngg−1 dw). The distribution pattern for the PAHs was generally different from that of the EDCs possibly due to their distinct sources and n-octanol-/water partition coefficients (KOW). Qualitative and quantitative analytical results showed that PAH sources were mainly from a mixture of pyrogenic and petrogenic contributions. The higher levels at the southeast of Geligang indicated that the EDC pollutants may have mainly originated from the plastic industry and other chemical plants located along the Liao River. Ecological risk assessment revealed that PAHs exhibited low ecotoxicological effects, whereas EDCs, especially 4-tert-octylphenol and bisphenol A, had high ecological hazard to the estuarine biota.