Factors Affecting Distribution of Estrogenicity in the Influents, Effluents, and Biosolids of Canadian Wastewater Treatment Plants

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 70; no. 4; pp. 682 - 691
• Main Authors: Shieh, Ben H. H, Louie, Alvin, Law, Francis C. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.05.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amino acids; Analysis; Bioassays; Biological Assay; Biological wastewater treatment; Biosolids; Canada; Chemicals; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Effluents; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; estradiol; Estradiol - analysis; estrogenic properties; Estrogens; Estrogens - analysis; Estrogens - toxicity; Estrone; fish; Hormones; Influents; Methods; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nutrient removal; Plants (organisms); Pollution; Population; Sludge; Soil Science & Conservation; Solid wastes; Studies; Summer; Surface water; temperature; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Waste Water - chemistry; wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment plants; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Water pollution; Water treatment; Water treatment plants; Winter; Yeast; Yeasts; Canada; ANW, Canada; Estrogenic Chemical; Estrogenic Activity; Estrogenic Potential; Biological Nutrient Removal; Yeast Estrogenic Screening
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/s00244-015-0230-z

Canadian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) release significant amounts of estrogenic chemicals to nearby surface waters. Environmental estrogens have been implicated as the causative agents of many developmental and reproductive problems in animals, including fish. The goals of this study were to assess the estrogenic activity in the influents, effluents, and biosolids of thirteen Canadian WWTPs using the yeast estrogen screen (YES) bioassay and to investigate whether factors, such as wastewater treatment method, sample storage, extraction efficiency, population, and summer/winter temperature had any effects on the distribution of estrogenicity in the WWTPs. Results of the study showed that estrogenicity from the influent to the effluent decreased in seven WWTPs, increased in two WWTPs, and did not change in four WWTPs during the winter. Estrogenic concentrations generally decreased in the order of biosolids > influents > effluents and ranged from 1.57 to 24.6, 1.25E−02 to 3.84E−01, and 9.46E−03 to 3.90E−01 ng estradiol equivalents/g or ml, respectively. The estrogenicity in the final effluents, but not those in the influents and biosolids, was significantly higher in the summer than the winter. Among the WWTP treatment methods, advanced, biological nutrient removal appeared to be the most effective method to remove estrogenic chemicals from wastewaters in Canada. Our studies help to identify factors or mechanisms that affect the distribution of estrogenicity in WWTPs, providing a better understanding on the discharges of estrogenic chemicals from WWTPs.