Projects
05: Phenolic substances with estrogenic disruptor potential as contaminants in the aquatic environment (PHENCON).
Endocrine disruptors in wastewater and in the aquatic environment.
Phenolic and brominated contaminants often occur in aquatic environments. These contaminants are believed to act as endocrine disruptors. Here, an assessment of the potential environmental risk of endocrine disruptors in various ecosystems will be carried out.
Kohler Hans-Peter, EAWAG, Dübendorf
e-mail: kohler@eawag.ch
Background
Phenolic chemicals such as 17-β-estradiol, nonylphenol and bisphenol A are among the most important endocrine disruptors which have been detected in the environment. While 17-β-estradiol is a naturally occurring hormone, the other phenolic substances are either synthetically manufactured or are formed during the biodegradation of other synthetic chemicals. Polybrominated chemicals are used as flame retardants and are considered to be endocrine disruptors with a high bioaccumulation potential. Phenolic and brominated contaminant groups are widely used and often occur in aquatic environments.
Aim
The fate of phenolic and brominated contaminants will be studied in industrial and domestic effluents, ambient waters, drinking water and in aquatic organisms. The occurrence and behaviour of individual pollutants, and particularly their metabolites, will be monitored. Laboratory experiments will be used to evaluate biotransformation mechanisms and to check on potentially harmful degradation intermediates. The main thrust of this project will be to provide information in order to assess the potential environmental risk of endocrine disruptors occurring as trace contaminants in the aquatic environment.
Significance
This project will provide information which will help improve knowledge of the environmental occurrence and behaviour of phenolic and brominated chemicals and their metabolites as potential endocrine disruptors, and it will also improve the assessment of environmental risks associated with these chemicals.
The results of this study are expected to be of use in the environmental risk assessment of phenolic and brominated substances by the regulatory authorities, chemical companies and non-governmental organizations.