The effects of urbanization and rainfall on the distribution of, and risks from, phenolic environmental estrogens in river sediment

Li, Zhenhan; Zhang, Wenqiang; Shan, Baoqing

The effects of urbanization and rainfall on the distribution of, and risks from, phenolic environmental estrogens in river sediment

2019

Li, Zhenhan | Zhang, Wenqiang | Shan, Baoqing

There is increasing concern about phenolic environmental estrogens (PEEs) in river systems, especially in economically developed regions, because of their potential to impact ecological systems. We studied the distribution of, ecological risks from, and factors that influenced PEEs in the sediments from the Duliujian River in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration and the Pearl River in Guangdong Province in China. The three target PEEs, nonyl phenol (4-NP), octyl phenol (4-t-OP), and bisphenol A (BPA), were detected in the sediments at concentrations ranging from 204.4 to 12604.3, 32.6 to 297.3, and from 12.8 to 298.4 ng g−1 in the Pearl River, and from 153.5 to 3614.9, 90.7 to 990.0, and 83.5–913.3 ng g−1 in the Duliujian River, respectively. The PEE concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with total organic carbon in the river sediments (p < 0.1). Urbanization influenced the distribution of PEEs and applications and discharges of PEEs were associated with large populations and industries. Rainfall and wastewater discharge patterns also influenced how PEEs were distributed in river sediments. The potential ecological risks from 4-NP, 4-t-OP, and BPA in these two rivers were high. Measures should be put in place to control the transport and storage of these compounds in river systems.

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