Publication Abstract

Estrogenic activity measured in a sewage treatment works which treats industrial inputs containing high concentrations of alkylphenolic compounds - a case study

Estrogenic activity measured in a sewage treatment works which treats industrial inputs containing high concentrations of alkylphenolic compounds - a case study

D. A. Sheahan, G. C. Brighty, S. Kirby, M. Hurst, J. Kennedy, S. Morris, E. J. Routledge, J. P. Sumpter, M. Waldock

This study focuses on a sewage-treatment works (STW) receiving trade waste from the textile industry. Inputs to the works contained high concentrations of alkylphenol polyethoxylate surfactants and some of their degradation products, previously shown to be estrogenic to fish in receiving waters. The concentration of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE’s), the natural steroid hormones 17 β -estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and the synthetic hormone 17α -ethynylestradiol (EE2) were measured in the three influents to the STW. Samples were also collected from a textile trade waste discharge that contributes to the industrial input to the works; concentrations of NPE’s from this source were compared to those measured in the final effluent discharge to the River Aire. All samples were separated into discrete fractions with regard to their molecular weight and polarity using a solid-phase (C18) extraction, followed by semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A recombinant yeast assay was used to detect estrogenic activity in individual HPLC fractions. The estrogenically active NPE’s, nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO) and nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO) as well as nonylphenol (NP), were produced within the treatment works as the parent surfactant compounds were degraded. However, there was an overall decrease in the concentration of these compounds in solution, with the lowest concentrations at the sampling point before discharge of the final effluent to the River Aire. Nevertheless, total estrogenic activity measured by the yeast assay was shown not to differ in samples from the influents as compared to the final effluent discharge to the River Aire. A bioassay was used to measure vitellogenin in caged fish held in the river at sites up and downstream of the final effluent discharge, and this demonstrated that the final effluent was highly estrogenic. Human derived steroids together with compounds of industrial origin contributed the estrogenic activity detected using the fish bioassay.

Reference:

D. A. Sheahan*, G. C. Brighty, S. Kirby*, M. Hurst*, J. Kennedy, S. Morris*, E. J. Routledge, J. P. Sumpter, M. Waldock*  (2001) Estrogenic activity measured in a sewage treatment works which treats industrial inputs containing high concentrations of alkylphenolic compounds - a case study. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 21(3): 507-514

D. A. Sheahan*, G. C. Brighty, S. Kirby*, M. Hurst*, J. Kennedy, S. Morris*, E. J. Routledge, J. P. Sumpter, M. Waldock*

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 21(3): 507-514