Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.056
Document author version
Title (Primary) Analysis of endocrine activity in drinking water, surface water and treated wastewater from six countries
Author Leusch, F.D.L.; Neale, P.A.; Arnal, C.; Aneck-Hahn, N.H.; Balaguer, P.; Bruchet, A.; Escher, B.I.; Esperanza, M.; Grimaldi, M.; Leroy, G.; Scheurer, M.; Schlichting, R.; Schriks, M.; Hebert, A.
Source Titel Water Research
Year 2018
Department ZELLTOX
Volume 139
Page From 10
Page To 18
Language englisch
Keywords Bioassay; Endocrine activity; Environmental waters; In vitro; Effect-based trigger value
UFZ wide themes RU3;
Abstract The aquatic environment can contain numerous micropollutants and there are concerns about endocrine activity in environmental waters and the potential impacts on human and ecosystem health. In this study a complementary chemical analysis and in vitro bioassay approach was applied to evaluate endocrine activity in treated wastewater, surface water and drinking water samples from six countries (Germany, Australia, France, South Africa, the Netherlands and Spain). The bioassay test battery included assays indicative of seven endocrine pathways, while 58 different chemicals, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and industrial compounds, were analysed by targeted chemical analysis. Endocrine activity was below the limit of quantification for most water samples, with only two of six treated wastewater samples and two of six surface water samples exhibiting estrogenic, glucocorticoid, progestagenic and/or anti-mineralocorticoid activity above the limit of quantification. Based on available effect-based trigger values (EBT) for estrogenic and glucocorticoid activity, some of the wastewater and surface water samples were found to exceed the EBT, suggesting these environmental waters may pose a potential risk to ecosystem health. In contrast, the lack of bioassay activity and low detected chemical concentrations in the drinking water samples do not suggest a risk to human endocrine health, with all samples below the relevant EBTs.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=20107
Leusch, F.D.L., Neale, P.A., Arnal, C., Aneck-Hahn, N.H., Balaguer, P., Bruchet, A., Escher, B.I., Esperanza, M., Grimaldi, M., Leroy, G., Scheurer, M., Schlichting, R., Schriks, M., Hebert, A. (2018):
Analysis of endocrine activity in drinking water, surface water and treated wastewater from six countries
Water Res. 139 , 10 - 18 10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.056