Phenolic xenoestrogens in surface water, sediments, and sewage sludge from Baden-Württemberg, south-west Germany

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 115; no. 2; pp. 291 - 301
• Main Authors: Bolz, U, Hagenmaier, H, Körner, W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: 2-hydroxybiphenyl; 4-chloro-3-methylphenol; 4-Nonylphenol; Applied sciences; Bisphenol A; Continental surface waters; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal - analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Fresh Water - chemistry; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - methods; GC/MS; Geologic Sediments; Germany; Natural water pollution; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; Phenols - analysis; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Reproducibility of Results; Sewage - chemistry; Soil and sediments pollution; Wastes; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water treatment and pollution; Europe; Germany; Bisphenol A; 4-Nonylphenol; 2-hydroxybiphenyl; 4-chloro-3-methylphenol; GC/MS; Chemical analysis; Stream discharge; Endocrine disruptor; Sediments; Sewage sludge; Content; Surface water; Phenols; Aromatic compound; Water pollution; Waste water discharge; Xenobiotic
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/S0269-7491(01)00100-2

Nine phenolic chemicals that mimic estrogens were found in surface water, sediments and sewage sludge. Nine structurally different phenolic chemicals, which have been reported to mimic estrogen effects, were determined in various aquatic environmental compartments. Twenty-three water samples from five streams and rivers showed levels up to 458 ng/l for 4-nonylphenol (4NP), 189 ng/l for 4- t-octylphenol (4 tOP), 272 ng/l for bisphenol A (BPA) and 47 ng/l for 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2OHBiP). Elevated levels of these compounds in a stream with a high load of effluents of sewage treatment plants (STPs), compared to a brook free of sewage, identified STPs as major sources. With a similar order, 4NP (10–259 μg/kg dry matter), 4 tOP (<0.5–8 μg/kg), BPA (<0.5–15 μg/kg), and 2OHBiP (2–69 μg/kg) were also detected regularly in riverine sediment ( n=11). Levels in sewage sludge were one order of magnitude higher than in sediments. 4-Hydroxybiphenyl and 4-chloro-3-methylphenol were found predominantly in sludge and sediment in the lower ppb range.