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Rapp-Wright H, Rodríguez-Mozaz S, Álvarez-Muñoz D, Barceló D, Regan F, Barron LP, White B. International Comparison, Risk Assessment, and Prioritisation of 26 Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in Three European River Catchments in the UK, Ireland, and Spain. Molecules 2023; 28:5994. [PMID: 37630246 PMCID: PMC10458904 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28165994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) constitute a wide variety of chemistries with diverse properties that may/can pose risks to both humans and the environment. Herein, a total of 26 compounds, including steroids, flame retardants, and plasticizers, were monitored in three major and heavily urbanized river catchments: the R. Liffey (Ireland), the R. Thames (UK), and the R. Ter (Spain), by using a single solid-phase extraction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS) method. Occurrence and frequency rates were investigated across all locations over a 10-week period, with the highest concentration obtained for the flame retardant tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) at 4767 ng∙L-1 in the R. Thames in Central London. Geographical variations were observed between sites and were partially explained using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). In particular, discrimination between the R. Ter and the R. Thames was observed based on the presence and concentration of flame retardants, benzotriazole, and steroids. Environmental risk assessment (ERA) across sites showed that caffeine, a chemical marker, and bisphenol A (BPA), a plasticizer, were classified as high-risk for the R. Liffey and R. Thames, based on relative risk quotients (rRQs), and that caffeine was classified as high-risk for the R. Ter, based on RQs. The total risks at each location, namely ΣRQriver, and ΣrRQriver, were: 361, 455, and 723 for the rivers Liffey, Thames, and Ter, respectively. Caffeine, as expected, was ubiquitous in all 3 urban areas, though with the highest RQ observed in the R. Ter. High contributions of BPA were also observed across the three matrices. Therefore, these two compounds should be prioritized independently of location. This study represents a comprehensive EDC monitoring comparison between different European cities based on a single analytical method, which allowed for a geographically independent ERA prioritization to be performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Rapp-Wright
- DCU Water Institute, Water Hub SG57, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland; (F.R.); (B.W.)
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Sara Rodríguez-Mozaz
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), C/Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; (S.R.-M.); (D.Á.-M.); (D.B.)
- University of Girona (UdG), 17004 Girona, Spain
| | - Diana Álvarez-Muñoz
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), C/Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; (S.R.-M.); (D.Á.-M.); (D.B.)
- University of Girona (UdG), 17004 Girona, Spain
| | - Damià Barceló
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), C/Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; (S.R.-M.); (D.Á.-M.); (D.B.)
- University of Girona (UdG), 17004 Girona, Spain
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fiona Regan
- DCU Water Institute, Water Hub SG57, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland; (F.R.); (B.W.)
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Leon P. Barron
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Blánaid White
- DCU Water Institute, Water Hub SG57, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland; (F.R.); (B.W.)
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Dublin, Ireland
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Schmidhauser M, Hankele AK, Ulbrich SE. Reconsidering "low-dose"-Impacts of oral estrogen exposure during preimplantation embryo development. Mol Reprod Dev 2023; 90:445-458. [PMID: 36864780 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Perturbations of estrogen signaling during developmental stages of high plasticity may lead to adverse effects later in life. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) are compounds that interfere with the endocrine system by particularly mimicking the action of endogenous estrogens as functional agonists or antagonists. EDCs compose synthetic and naturally occurring compounds discharged into the environment, which may be taken up via skin contact, inhalation, orally due to contaminated food or water, or via the placenta during in utero development. Although estrogens are efficiently metabolized by the liver, the role of circulating glucuro- and/or sulpho-conjugated estrogen metabolites in the body has not been fully addressed to date. Particularly, the role of intracellular cleavage to free functional estrogens could explain the hitherto unknown mode of action of adverse effects of EDC at very low concentrations currently considered safe. We summarize and discuss findings on estrogenic EDC with a focus on early embryonic development to highlight the need for reconsidering low dose effects of EDC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meret Schmidhauser
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Susanne E Ulbrich
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
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Arrizabalaga-Larrañaga A, Linders R, Blokland MH, Sterk S. Occurrence of resorcyclic acid lactones in porcine urine: discrimination between illegal use and contamination. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2023:1-14. [PMID: 37326477 DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2023.2222008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Zeranol (α-zearalanol, α-ZAL), is a resorcyclic acid lactone (RAL). Its administration to farm animals to improve meat production has been prohibited in the European Union due to the potential risk to human health. However, it has been demonstrated that α-ZAL may be present in livestock animals due to Fusarium fungi that produce fusarium acid lactones contamination in feed. The fungi produce a small amount of zearalenone (ZEN), which is metabolized to zeranol. The potential endogenous origin of α-ZAL makes it difficult to correlate positive samples to a potential illicit treatment with α-ZAL. We present two experimental studies that investigated the origin of natural and synthetic RALs in porcine urine. Urine samples from pigs that were either fed with ZEN-contaminated feed or administered α-ZAL by injection were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, with the method validated according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808. The data show that although the concentration of α-ZAL in the ZEN feed-contaminated samples is significantly lower than in the illicit administration samples, α-ZAL can occur in porcine urine via natural metabolism. Additionally, the feasibility of using the ratio of forbidden/fusarium RALs in porcine urine as a reliable biomarker for illicit treatment with α-ZAL administration was evaluated for the first time. This study demonstrated that the obtained ratio in the contaminated ZEN feed study was close to 1, while in the illegally administered α-ZAL samples the ratio is always higher than 1 (up to 135). Therefore, this study proves that the ratio criteria (already used when a forbidden RAL is detected in bovine urine) may also be used for porcine urine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ane Arrizabalaga-Larrañaga
- Department of Growth Promotors, European Union Reference Laboratory, Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Part of Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rachelle Linders
- Department of Growth Promotors, European Union Reference Laboratory, Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Part of Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marco H Blokland
- Department of Growth Promotors, European Union Reference Laboratory, Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Part of Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia Sterk
- Department of Growth Promotors, European Union Reference Laboratory, Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Part of Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Yang X, Niu Y, Yang Y, Zhou H, Li J, Fu X, Shen Z, Wang J, Qiu Z. Pheromone effect of estradiol regulates the conjugative transfer of pCF10 carrying antibiotic resistance genes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 451:131087. [PMID: 36889077 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mediated by conjugative plasmids greatly contributes to bacteria evolution and the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In addition to the selective pressure imposed by extensive antibiotic use, environmental chemical pollutants facilitate the dissemination of antibiotic resistance, consequently posing a serious threat to the ecological environment. Presently, the majority of studies focus on the effects of environmental compounds on R plasmid-mediated conjugation transfer, and pheromone-inducible conjugation has largely been neglected. In this study, we explored the pheromone effect and potential molecular mechanisms of estradiol in promoting the conjugative transfer of pCF10 plasmid in Enterococcus faecalis. Environmentally relevant concentrations of estradiol significantly increased the conjugative transfer of pCF10 with a maximum frequency of 3.2 × 10-2, up to 3.5-fold change compared to that of control. Exposure to estradiol induced the activation of pheromone signaling cascade by increasing the expression of ccfA. Furthermore, estradiol might directly bind to the pheromone receptor PrgZ and promote pCF10 induction and finally enhance the conjugative transfer of pCF10. These findings cast valuable insights on the roles of estradiol and its homolog in increasing antibiotic resistance and the potential ecological risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Yang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Yuanyuan Niu
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yutong Yang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Hongrui Zhou
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Jing Li
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Xinyue Fu
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China; Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Zhiqiang Shen
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Jingfeng Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China.
| | - Zhigang Qiu
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China.
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Harnsoongnoen S, Loutchanwoot P, Srivilai P. Sensing High 17β-Estradiol Concentrations Using a Planar Microwave Sensor Integrated with a Microfluidic Channel. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:bios13050541. [PMID: 37232902 DOI: 10.3390/bios13050541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The global issue of pollution caused by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been gaining increasing attention. Among the EDCs of environmental concern, 17β-estradiol (E2) can produce the strongest estrogenic effects when it enters the organism exogenously through various routes and has the potential to cause harm, including malfunctions of the endocrine system and development of growth and reproductive disorders in humans and animals. Additionally, in humans, supraphysiological levels of E2 have been associated with a range of E2-dependent disorders and cancers. To ensure environmental safety and prevent potential risks of E2 to human and animal health, it is crucial to develop rapid, sensitive, low cost and simple approaches for detecting E2 contamination in the environment. A planar microwave sensor for E2 sensing is presented based on the integration of a microstrip transmission line (TL) loaded with a Peano fractal geometry with a narrow slot complementary split-ring resonator (PF-NSCSRR) and a microfluidic channel. The proposed technique offers a wide linear range for detecting E2, ranging from 0.001 to 10 mM, and can achieve high sensitivity with small sample volumes and simple operation methods. The proposed microwave sensor was validated through simulations and empirical measurements within a frequency range of 0.5-3.5 GHz. The E2 solution was delivered to the sensitive area of the sensor device via a microfluidic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channel with an area of 2.7 mm2 and sample value of 1.37 µL and measured by a proposed sensor. The injection of E2 into the channel resulted in changes in the transmission coefficient (S21) and resonance frequency (Fr), which can be used as an indicator of E2 levels in solution. The maximum quality factor of 114.89 and the maximum sensitivity based on S21 and Fr at a concentration of 0.01 mM were 1746.98 dB/mM and 40 GHz/mM, respectively. Upon comparing the proposed sensor with the original Peano fractal geometry with complementary split-ring (PF-CSRR) sensors without a narrow slot, several parameters were evaluated, including sensitivity, quality factor, operating frequency, active area, and sample volume. The results showed that the proposed sensor exhibited an increased sensitivity of 6.08% and had a 40.72% higher quality factor, while the operating frequency, active area, and sample volume showed decreases of 1.71%, 25%, and 28.27%, respectively. The materials under tests (MUTs) were analyzed and categorized into groups using principal component analysis (PCA) with a K-mean clustering algorithm. The proposed E2 sensor has a compact size and simple structure that can be easily fabricated with low-cost materials. With the small sample volume requirement, fast measurement with a wide dynamic range, and a simple protocol, this proposed sensor can also be applied to measure high E2 levels in environmental, human, and animal samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supakorn Harnsoongnoen
- The Biomimicry for Sustainable Agriculture, Health, Environment and Energy Research Unit, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai District, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
| | - Panida Loutchanwoot
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai District, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
| | - Prayook Srivilai
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai District, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
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Wu L, Lu C, Huang N, Zhong M, Teng Y, Tian Y, Ye K, Liang L, Hu Z. Exploration of the effect of simultaneous removal of EDCs in the treatment process of different types of wastewater. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2023; 87:436-453. [PMID: 36706292 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2022.429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The SPE-HPLC-MS/MS method was used to investigate the concentration distribution of nine types of estrogens in 18 locations of pollution source along the Jiuzhou River belonging to river systems in Guangdong province and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in China, and the estrogenic activity and potential ecological risks were evaluated by calculating the estradiol equivalency (EEQ). The results showed that the calculated estradiol equivalents (cEEQs) of wastewater treatment plants from 17 locations were all higher than 1 ng/L. To further study the removal effect of the treatment process on the estrogens, the pig breeding wastewater from P4 and the municipal wastewater from P13, as well as the black-odorous water, were sampled and surveyed during the entire process. It turned out that estrogens were effectively removed after nitrification activated sludge treatment. Meanwhile, there was a positive correlation between the removal of NH3-N, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) and the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). It is shown in the study the secondary treatment process has achieved a significant effect on the removal of estrogen in both the wet and dry periods and that there has been a positive correlation between the activities of total phosphorus compounds, nitrogen-based compounds and the removal of EDCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieshan Wu
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China
| | - Chunliu Lu
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China
| | - Ning Huang
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Centre, Nanning 530028, PR China E-mail:
| | - Minjie Zhong
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, PR China
| | - Yunmei Teng
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Centre, Nanning 530028, PR China E-mail:
| | - Yan Tian
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Centre, Nanning 530028, PR China E-mail:
| | - Kaixiao Ye
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Centre, Nanning 530028, PR China E-mail:
| | - Liuling Liang
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Centre, Nanning 530028, PR China E-mail:
| | - Zaoshi Hu
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Centre, Nanning 530028, PR China E-mail:
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Gomes FBR, Fernandes PAA, Bottrel SEC, Brandt EMF, Pereira RDO. Fate, occurrence, and removal of estrogens in livestock wastewaters. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2022; 86:814-833. [PMID: 36038979 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2022.238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
During the last decades, livestock and animal feeding operations have been expanded. In parallel, these activities are among the major sources of estrogens in the environment. Thus, considering the environmental and health risks associated with estrogenic compounds, this work reviews the fate, occurrence, and removal of free and conjugated E1, E2, and E3 in livestock wastewaters. A systematic literature review was carried out, and after applying the eligibility criteria, 66 peer-reviewed papers were selected. Results suggest high estrogen concentrations and, consequently, high estrogenic activity, especially in samples from swine farming. E1 and E2 are frequently found in wastewaters from bovine, swine, and other livestock effluents. Aerobic treatment processes were more efficient for estrogen removal, whereas anaerobic systems seem poorly effective. Removal efficiencies of estrogens and estrogenic activity of up to 90% were reported for constructed wetlands, advanced pond systems, trickling filters, membrane bioreactors, aerated and nitrifying reactors, combined air flotation, and vegetable oil capture processes. High concentrations found in wastewaters from livestock allied to the removal efficiencies reported for anaerobic processes (usually used to treat livestock wastewaters) evidence the importance of monitoring these compounds in environmental matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Bento Rosa Gomes
- Civil Engineering Graduate Program, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Jose Lourenço Kelmer s/n, Campus UFJF, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36036-900, Brazil E-mail:
| | - Pedro Antônio Alves Fernandes
- Department of Sanitary and vpEnvironmental Engineering, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Jose Lourenço Kelmer s/n, Campus UFJF, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36036-900, Brazil
| | - Sue Ellen Costa Bottrel
- Civil Engineering Graduate Program, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Jose Lourenço Kelmer s/n, Campus UFJF, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36036-900, Brazil E-mail: ; Department of Sanitary and vpEnvironmental Engineering, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Jose Lourenço Kelmer s/n, Campus UFJF, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36036-900, Brazil
| | - Emanuel Manfred Freire Brandt
- Civil Engineering Graduate Program, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Jose Lourenço Kelmer s/n, Campus UFJF, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36036-900, Brazil E-mail:
| | - Renata de Oliveira Pereira
- Civil Engineering Graduate Program, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Jose Lourenço Kelmer s/n, Campus UFJF, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36036-900, Brazil E-mail: ; Department of Sanitary and vpEnvironmental Engineering, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Jose Lourenço Kelmer s/n, Campus UFJF, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36036-900, Brazil
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Tang Z, Liu ZH, Chen W, Wang C, Wu YJ, Wang H, Dang Z, Liu Y. Twelve natural estrogens in urines of six threatened or endangered mammalian species in Zoo Park: implications and their potential risk. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:49404-49410. [PMID: 35504991 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20554-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This work was the first to report twelve natural estrogens (NEs) in the urines of six threatened or endangered mammalians in a Zoo Park of Guangzhou (i.e., panda, gorilla, elephant, African lion, jaguar, and leopard). Ten out of twelve NEs were detected at least in one urine sample of the six mammalians studied, including the four major NEs (i.e., estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-estradiol (αE2), estriol (E3)), and six other NEs (i.e., 4-hydroxyestrone (4OHE1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2OHE2), 4-hydroxyestradiol (4OHE2), 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE1), 16ketoestradiol (16ketoE2), and 17epiestriol (17epiE3)). The six studied mammalians, ranked in the order of high to low urinary concentration of total NEs, were jaguar, African lion, gorilla, elephant, panda, and leopard, with respective urinary concentrations of 110.4, 86.4, 71.4, 66.0, 55.9, and 52.8 ng/mL. According to the average urinary concentration of NE in the six mammalians ranked from high to low, the top five NEs detected were 16α-OHE1, 4OHE1, E1, E3, and 17epiE3, respectively. These clearly indicated the occurrence of NEs other than the four major types in urines of animals in a Zoo Park. Moreover, the daily excretion rates of the five detected NEs by one elephant ranged from 1162-2254 μg/d with a total daily excretion rate of 8260 μg/d, suggesting that the total urinary excretion of NEs by one adult elephant was equivalent to that by 170 premenopausal women or 506 adult men. Consequently, it appears from this study that NEs in the urines of zoo animals should be considered an emerging source of NEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Tang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Ze-Hua Liu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China.
- Key Lab Pollution Control & Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Cluster, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China.
| | - Wu Chen
- Guangzhou Zoo & Guangzhou Wildlife Research Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Guangzhou Zoo & Guangzhou Wildlife Research Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ya-Jiang Wu
- Guangzhou Zoo & Guangzhou Wildlife Research Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Wang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhi Dang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu Liu
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
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Biodegradation and Metabolic Pathway of 17β-Estradiol by Rhodococcus sp. ED55. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116181. [PMID: 35682859 PMCID: PMC9181579 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the environment are considered a motif of concern, due to the widespread occurrence and potential adverse ecological and human health effects. The natural estrogen, 17β-estradiol (E2), is frequently detected in receiving water bodies after not being efficiently removed in conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), promoting a negative impact for both the aquatic ecosystem and human health. In this study, the biodegradation of E2 by Rhodococcus sp. ED55, a bacterial strain isolated from sediments of a discharge point of WWTP in Coloane, Macau, was investigated. Rhodococcus sp. ED55 was able to completely degrade 5 mg/L of E2 in 4 h in a synthetic medium. A similar degradation pattern was observed when the bacterial strain was used in wastewater collected from a WWTP, where a significant improvement in the degradation of the compound occurred. The detection and identification of 17 metabolites was achieved by means of UPLC/ESI/HRMS, which proposed a degradation pathway of E2. The acute test with luminescent marine bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri revealed the elimination of the toxicity of the treated effluent and the standardized yeast estrogenic (S-YES) assay with the recombinant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed a decrease in the estrogenic activity of wastewater samples after biodegradation.
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Ma Y, Shen W, Tang T, Li Z, Dai R. Environmental estrogens in surface water and their interaction with microalgae: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:150637. [PMID: 34592293 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Environmental estrogens (EEs) have received extensive attention because they interfere with biological endocrine and reproduction systems by mimicking, antagonizing, or otherwise affecting the actions of endogenous hormones. Additionally, harmful algal blooms have become a global problem in surface water. Microalgae, as an essential primary producer, is especially important for aquatic life and the entire ecosystem. The presence of EEs in surface water may be a potential promoting factor for algal blooms, and microalgae may have effects on the degradation of EEs. This review focuses on the distribution and pollution characteristics of EEs in global surface waters, effects of single and mixed EEs on microalgae regarding growth and toxin production, mechanisms of EEs on microalgae at the cellular and molecular level. The impacts of microalgae on EEs were also discussed. This review provides a risk assessment of EEs and identifies essential clues that will aid in formulating and revising the relevant standards of surface water regarding EEs, which is significant for ecosystems and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxiao Ma
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200082, China.
| | - Wendi Shen
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200082, China.
| | - Tingting Tang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200082, China.
| | - Zihao Li
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200082, China.
| | - Ruihua Dai
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200082, China.
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Černá T, Ezechiáš M, Semerád J, Grasserová A, Cajthaml T. Evaluation of estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity in sludge and explanation of individual compound contributions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 423:127108. [PMID: 34523467 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mixture toxicity, including agonistic and antagonistic effects, is an unrevealed environmental problem. Estrogenic endocrine disruptors are known to cause adverse effects for aquatic biota, but causative chemicals and their contributions to the total activity in sewage sludge remain unknown. Therefore, advanced analytical methods, a yeast bioassay and mixture toxicity models were concurrently applied for the characterization of 8 selected sludges with delectable estrogenic activity (and 3 sludges with no activity as blanks) out of 25 samples from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The first applied full logistic model adequately explained total activity by considering the concentrations of the monitored compounds. The results showed that the activity was primarily caused by natural estrogens in municipal WWTP sludge. Nevertheless, activity in a sample originating from a car-wash facility was dominantly caused by partial agonists - nonylphenols - and only a model enabling prediction of all dose-response curve parameters of the final mixture curve explained these results. Antiestrogenic effects were negligible, and effect-directed analysis identified the causative chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Černá
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 4, Czech Republic; Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Ezechiáš
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Semerád
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Grasserová
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 4, Czech Republic; Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Cajthaml
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 4, Czech Republic; Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
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12
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Tang Z, Wan YP, Liu ZH, Wang H, Dang Z, Liu Y. Twelve natural estrogens in urines of swine and cattle: Concentration profiles and importance of eight less-studied. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 803:150042. [PMID: 34525709 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although four major natural estrogens (i.e., estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3) and 17α-estradiol (αE2)) have been commonly found in livestock urine, this study reports the occurrence of eight other less-studied natural estrogens in urine of swine and cattle, i.e. 2-hydroxyestone (2OHE1), 4-hydroxyestrone (4OHE1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2OHE2), 4-hydroxyestradiol (4OHE2), 16-epiestriol (16epiE3), 16α-hydroxyestrone (16αE1), 16-ketoestradiol (16ketoE2), and 17epiestriol (17epiE3). Results showed that each estrogen was found in at least one urine sample, and 6 of 8 the less-studied estrogens were present at frequencies of ≥90% in boars, ≥70% in sows, and ≥50% in dairy cattle. Five of eight the less-studied estrogens were present at frequencies of ≥33.3% in four beef cattle and one bull. On a concentration basis, the 8 less-studied natural estrogens represented 73.2%, 85.2%, 39.9%, 47.7%, 26.9%, 56.0% and 44.1% of total concentrations of the twelve natural estrogens when combining data from all animals. Similar results were observed based on estrogen equivalence, which indicated these newly detected eight less-studied natural estrogens were not negligible. This work is the first to figure out the importance of these less-studied natural estrogens in livestock urine, and their potential environmental risks associated with discharge of livestock wastewater should be urgently assessed in a holistic manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Tang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Yi-Ping Wan
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Ze-Hua Liu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China; Key Lab Pollution Control & Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Cluster, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China.
| | - Hao Wang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhi Dang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu Liu
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
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13
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Impact of Estrogens Present in Environment on Health and Welfare of Animals. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11072152. [PMID: 34359280 PMCID: PMC8300725 DOI: 10.3390/ani11072152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Estrogens are a group of steroid hormones that recently have gained even more attention in the eyes of scientists. There is an ongoing discussion in the scientific community about their relevance as environmental contaminants and the danger they pose to animal health and welfare. In available literature we can find many examples of their negative effects and mechanisms that are involved with such phenomena. Abstract Nowadays, there is a growing interest in environmental pollution; however, knowledge about this aspect is growing at an insufficient pace. There are many potential sources of environmental contamination, including sex hormones—especially estrogens. The analyzed literature shows that estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and synthetic ethinyloestradiol (EE2) are the most significant in terms of environmental impact. Potential sources of contamination are, among others, livestock farms, slaughterhouses, and large urban agglomerations. Estrogens occurring in the environment can negatively affect the organisms, such as animals, through phenomena such as feminization, dysregulation of natural processes related to reproduction, lowering the physiological condition of the organisms, disturbances in the regulation of both proapoptotic and anti-apoptotic processes, and even the occurrence of neoplastic processes thus drastically decreasing animal welfare. Unfortunately, the amount of research conducted on the negative consequences of their impact on animal organisms is many times smaller than that of humans, despite the great richness and diversity of the fauna. Therefore, there is a need for further research to help fill the gaps in our knowledge.
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14
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Rechsteiner D, Wettstein FE, Pfeiffer N, Hollender J, Bucheli TD. Natural estrogen emissions to subsurface tile drains from experimental grassland fields in Switzerland after application of livestock slurries and free compounds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 779:146351. [PMID: 33743455 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Natural estrogens are present in high concentrations in livestock slurries, which are often applied to agricultural fields in large quantities. As such, the export of slurry-derived natural estrogens from tile-drained fields is a potential source for estrogenic pollution in surface waters. Yet despite the abundance of tile-drained fields in Central Europe, export of natural estrogens from agricultural fields receiving livestock slurries is rarely studied in this region. In an effort to fill this knowledge gap, here we applied natural estrogens to Swiss experimental fields in the form of cattle slurry, pig slurry or dissolved in water, and quantified them in flow-proportionally collected drainage water over 18 months. After pig and cattle slurry applications, concentration maxima in drainage water of 73, 8, 37, and 60 ng L-1 for 17α-estradiol (E2α), 17β-estradiol (E2β), estrone (E1), and estriol (E3), respectively, were observed shortly after rain events. The exported fractions of individual natural estrogens to tile drains were on average 0.26% (ranging from 0.08 to 0.41%) after cattle, and 0.18% (0.03-0.40%) after pig slurry applications. Such numbers were higher than expected from the leaching potential based on substance properties, and comparable to those of more mobile micropollutants previously studied on the same fields. Natural estrogens were mainly exported to tile drains through preferential flow. Exported fractions were lower when applied in aqueous solution than when applied in slurry, pointing to particle-facilitated transport to tile drains when applied in slurry. In Switzerland, the estimated 6.3, 0.6, 7.4, and 7.7 g of E2α, E2β, E1, and E3, respectively, exported through the tile-drained agricultural area per year contribute little to the total natural estrogen load received by surface waters. However, after slurry applications in highly drained catchments, natural estrogen emissions to tile drains can cause short term (i.e. less than 1 week) estrogenic exposure in nearby streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Rechsteiner
- Environmental Analytics, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Felix E Wettstein
- Environmental Analytics, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Pfeiffer
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Juliane Hollender
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Chemistry, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Thomas D Bucheli
- Environmental Analytics, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland.
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15
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Rechsteiner D, Wettstein FE, Warren BP, Vermeirssen ELM, Simon E, Schneider MK, Hollender J, Bucheli TD. Natural estrogens in surface waters of a catchment with intensive livestock farming in Switzerland. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:2244-2255. [PMID: 33034330 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00317d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Natural estrogens such as 17α-estradiol (E2α), 17β-estradiol (E2β), estrone (E1), and estriol (E3), released to surface waters from both urban and agricultural sources, are endocrine disrupting for fish. Here, we assess the prevalence of livestock farming derived natural estrogens in tributaries and ponds in the agriculturally dominated catchment of Lake Baldegg, Switzerland. Passive samplers were deployed in the main tributary and daily time-proportional water samples were collected in five tributaries for 30 days at the beginning of the vegetation period. Furthermore, we took grab samples of 12 ponds in the catchment. Aqueous samples were liquid-liquid extracted, derivatized, and analysed with LC-MS/MS and stream water samples additionally with ERα-CALUX, a bioassay for assessing total estrogenic activity. Natural estrogens were regularly detected, with mean concentrations ranging from below the limit of detection to 0.55 ng L-1 for E2β and E1, respectively, and passive sampling and bioassay results largely confirmed these findings. Monte Carlo simulated mean natural estrogen concentrations underestimated measured ones by a factor of three to 11. An agricultural area's hydrological contribution and connectivity to surface waters seemed to be more important for the development of estrogen concentrations in streams than livestock densities in a catchment or the actual loads of slurry applied. Pond water occasionally contained natural estrogens in concentrations up to 8.6 ng L-1 for E2α. The environmental quality standards of the European Union (0.4 ng L-1 for E2β and 3.6 ng L-1 for E1) were never exceeded for longer than a day in tributaries, but E1 reached critical concentrations for aquatic organisms in ponds.
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