Anthropogenic pressure in a Portuguese river: Endocrine-disrupting compounds, trace elements and nutrients

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Cláudia M. R. Ribeiro (Author) Other; Alexandra S. Maia (Author) Other; Ana Rita Ribeiro (Author) FEUP; Cristina Couto (Author) Other; Agostinho A. Almeida (Author) FFUP; Mariana Santos (Author) Other; Maria Elisabeth Tiritan (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Environmental Science and Health - Part A Toxic/Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering

Vol. 51

Pages: 1043-1052

ISSN: 1093-4529

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 18 Citations

Scopus - 21 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00M-3NA

DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2016.1198622

Abstract (EN): Natural organic compounds such as phytoestrogens and phytosterols found in various plants, as well as mycotoxins produced by fungi, can be found in aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of three different classes of natural estrogenic compounds, i.e., phytoestrogens, phytosterols and mycotoxins, in estuarine water samples from the Ave River estuary. For that, water samples were collected at five sampling points distributed along the estuary at low tide, during 1year, processed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To correlate the presence of phytoestrogens and phytosterols in the estuarine water, local flora was collected on riverside. Trace elements content and physicochemical parameters such as nutrients and dissolved oxygen were also determined seasonally at each sampling point, to give insights for the evaluation of water quality and anthropogenic pressure. Both phytoestrogens and phytosterols showed a seasonal variation, with the highest values observed in spring and summer and the lowest in winter. Daidzein (DAID) was found up to 404.0ngL(-1) in spring and coumestrol (COUM) was found up to 165.0ngL(-1) in summer. The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) was ubiquitously determined with values ranging from 59.5 to 642.4ngL(-1). Nutrients and metals distribution and concentration varied among sampling stations and seasons. This study revealed for the first time the presence of mycotoxins, various classes of phytoestrogens and stigmasterol (STG) in estuarine water from the Ave River (Portugal), and the evaluation of the water quality confirmed that this estuary is still highly impacted by anthropogenic activities.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10