TY - JOUR
T1 - Occurrence, spatial distribution, risk assessment, and management of environmental estrogens in surface waters of the Taihu basin
AU - Wang, Minhao
AU - Ding, Hongran
AU - Liang, Guiyu
AU - Wang, Xueyin
AU - Yang, Luyue
AU - Tong, Ting
AU - Li, Dongling
AU - Zhou, Xiao
AU - Zhang, Haifei
AU - Wang, Fang
AU - Tie, Xiaowei
AU - Han, Lei
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing.
PY - 2024/2/13
Y1 - 2024/2/13
N2 - Rationale. The Taihu Basin is a critical freshwater ecosystem susceptible to contamination from various anthropogenic activities. Environmental estrogens (also known as endocrine disrupting chemicals, EDCs) are exogenous substances that can disrupt the normal functioning of endocrine systems. The contamination of water by EDCs is primarily caused by effluents from sewage treatment plants and livestock poultry farms. In this study, we assessed the spatial distribution and potential risks of environmental estrogens in surface water in the Taihu basin. Various statistical evaluations were employed to establish connections between measured concentration of heavy elements, estrogens and physicochemical parameters, to identify potential sources of these contaminants. Methodology. Water samples from 44 sampling points in five lakes in Suzhou were taken for evaluation of environmental estrogens. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for identification of concentrations of estrone (EI). estradiol (E2). ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and bisphenol A (BPA). Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was employed to identify heavy element concentrations in water samples. Results. Environmental estrogen concentrations were detected ranging from 0.001 to 209 ngL–1, with the highest attributed to BPA. whereas El. E2 and EE2 were comparatively lower. Correlation evaluation between environmental estrogens, physicochemical parameters and heavy element contents revealed a positive correlation (P<0.05) between the total chromium and environmental estrogen contents. Consequently, the risk entropy value of Shanghu Lake exceeded 0.5, indicating a potentially high risk of estrogenic activity. Discussion. The widespread distribution and high concentrations of BPA in freshwater raise urgent concerns, highlighting the need for frequent monitoring of environmental estrogens in surface waters throughout the year to mitigate potential risks in the future. Our results suggest that a potential estrogen risk exists in the Shanghu Lake in the Taihu basin. Potential treatment methods for endocrine disruptors have been proposed, which could provide actionable plans for stakeholders.
AB - Rationale. The Taihu Basin is a critical freshwater ecosystem susceptible to contamination from various anthropogenic activities. Environmental estrogens (also known as endocrine disrupting chemicals, EDCs) are exogenous substances that can disrupt the normal functioning of endocrine systems. The contamination of water by EDCs is primarily caused by effluents from sewage treatment plants and livestock poultry farms. In this study, we assessed the spatial distribution and potential risks of environmental estrogens in surface water in the Taihu basin. Various statistical evaluations were employed to establish connections between measured concentration of heavy elements, estrogens and physicochemical parameters, to identify potential sources of these contaminants. Methodology. Water samples from 44 sampling points in five lakes in Suzhou were taken for evaluation of environmental estrogens. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for identification of concentrations of estrone (EI). estradiol (E2). ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and bisphenol A (BPA). Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was employed to identify heavy element concentrations in water samples. Results. Environmental estrogen concentrations were detected ranging from 0.001 to 209 ngL–1, with the highest attributed to BPA. whereas El. E2 and EE2 were comparatively lower. Correlation evaluation between environmental estrogens, physicochemical parameters and heavy element contents revealed a positive correlation (P<0.05) between the total chromium and environmental estrogen contents. Consequently, the risk entropy value of Shanghu Lake exceeded 0.5, indicating a potentially high risk of estrogenic activity. Discussion. The widespread distribution and high concentrations of BPA in freshwater raise urgent concerns, highlighting the need for frequent monitoring of environmental estrogens in surface waters throughout the year to mitigate potential risks in the future. Our results suggest that a potential estrogen risk exists in the Shanghu Lake in the Taihu basin. Potential treatment methods for endocrine disruptors have been proposed, which could provide actionable plans for stakeholders.
KW - EDCs
KW - Taihu Basin
KW - endocrine disrupting chemicals
KW - environmental estrogens
KW - management
KW - risk assessment
KW - spatial distribution
KW - statistical evaluation
KW - surface water
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85186560968&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1071/EN23112
DO - 10.1071/EN23112
M3 - Article
SN - 1448-2517
VL - 20
SP - 339
EP - 353
JO - Environmental Chemistry
JF - Environmental Chemistry
IS - 8
ER -