Quantification of 17 endocrine disruptor compounds and their spatial and seasonal distribution in the Iberian Ave River and its coastline

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

rocha, mj (Author) ICBAS; cruzeiro, c (Author) Other; rocha, e (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry

Vol. 95

Pages: 386-399

ISSN: 0277-2248

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 38 Citations

Scopus - 41 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-005-2MX

DOI: 10.1080/02772248.2013.773002

Abstract (EN): The Ave River flows through the most urbanized and industrialized Porto district areas. Despite ovotestis was recently reported in male fish from the estuary, no data exist on the water levels of natural and pharmaceutical estrogens (17-estradiol, estrone, and 17-ethynylestradiol), xenoestrogenic industrial pollutants (4-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol and their mono and diethoxylates, and bisphenol A), phytoestrogens (formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein, and genistein), and sitosterol. Absence of analyses applies to the river, estuary, and nearby coastline. Those compounds mimic the action of endogenous estradiol, being well-recognized endocrine disrupters (EDCs). To conclude about suspected influxes of estrogenic EDCs into the river and coastline, water samples were taken at eight sites every two months, during one year (2010), at low tide. Data showed ubiquitous presence of potentially hazardous amounts of estrogens (particularly ethynylestradiol, up to 10ng L-1), nonylphenol (up to 250ng L-1), and sitosterol (up to 6g L-1), which helps explaining the ovotestis emergence in local fish. Also, because physicochemical parameters used in water quality evaluation, such as pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and nitrites levels, were within legal limits suggesting good quality our study supports that assessment of human and environmental risks by targeting surface waters requires integrating EDCs monitoring in routine analyses.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14