Endocrine disrupting chemicals in Italian drinking water systems: Insights from a three-year investigation combining chemical and effect-based tools
Drinking water quality can be compromised by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Three phenolic compounds [bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP), and 4-octylphenol (OP)] and three hormones [17β-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2)] were analyzed as EDCs potentially occurring...
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| Published in: | Heliyon Vol. 10; no. 5; p. e26785 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
England
Elsevier Ltd
15-03-2024
Elsevier |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Drinking water quality can be compromised by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Three phenolic compounds [bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP), and 4-octylphenol (OP)] and three hormones [17β-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2)] were analyzed as EDCs potentially occurring in source and drinking water from three full-scale drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) in the Romagna area (Italy) by a combined approach of HPLC-MS/MS target analysis and effect-based tests for estrogenicity and genotoxicity. The EDC removal efficiency was evaluated at different steps along the treatment process in the most advanced DWTP. NP prevailed in all samples, followed by BPA. Sporadic contamination by OP and E1/E2 appeared only in the source waters; EE2 was never detected. No estrogenic or genotoxic activity was found, except for two samples showing estrogenicity well below the effect-based trigger value suggested for drinking water safety (0.9 ng/L EEQ). BPA and NP levels were largely below the threshold value; however, increases were observed after the intermediate steps of the treatment chain. The good quality of the water relied on the last step, i.e. the activated carbon filtration. DWTPs may represent an extra source of EDCs and monitoring chemical occurrence at all steps of the process is advisable to improve efficiency.
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•EDCs in drinking water treatment plants were assessed by HPLC-MS/MS and bioassays.•The efficiency of the different steps along the treatment chain was evaluated.•Treatment plants may represent an extra source of BPA and nonylphenol contamination.•Genotoxicity was absent, low estrogenicity was shown by 2 out of 18 samples.•Monitoring EDCs occurrence at all steps of the treatment chain is recommended. |
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| Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 2405-8440 2405-8440 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26785 |