Determination of 17 endocrine disruptor compounds and their spatial and seasonal distribution in the Sado River Estuary (Portugal)

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

Authors

rocha, mj (Author) ICBAS; cruzeiro, c (Author) Other; reis, m (Author) Other; rocha, e (Author) FCUP; pardal, ma (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry

Vol. 95

Pages: 237-253

ISSN: 0277-2248

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 29 Citations

Scopus - 29 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-0NH

DOI: 10.1080/02772248.2012.758730

Abstract (EN): The Sado waters show signs of anthropogenic pollution. However, hardly any information exists on the levels of endocrine disrupters (EDCs) such as estrogens (17-estradiol, estrone and 17-ethynylestradiol) and there is no information at all on xenoestrogenic industrial pollutants (4-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol and their mono and diethoxylates and bisphenol A). Moreover, data on plant derived phytoestrogens (formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein, genistein) and sitosterol are scarce or inexistent. To assess on the suspected influx of EDCs in this aquatic system, water samples were taken every two months, during 2010, at nine sites distributed along the Sado Estuary and River (Alcacer do Sal) being afterward analyzed by GC-MS. Data showed the ubiquitous presence of potentially hazardous amounts of estrogens (mainly of estrone and estradiol, reaching over 10ng L1), nonylphenol diethoxylate (up to 900ng L1) and nonylphenol (up to 230ng L1). It was concluded that there are conditions for the occurrence of endocrine disruption in local aquatic animals, even in areas included inside the Natural Reserve. Moreover, a clear seasonal pattern of fluctuation was found for phytoestrogens and sitosterol. Besides, there were high amounts of unionized ammonia (up to 0.6mg L1) and phosphates (up to 3.2mg L1) suggesting that the current status poses risks for local fauna and humans.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 17