Abstract
Progesterones are ubiquitous in hospital wastewater (HWW) with concentrations much higher than those of estrogens and androgens. To ensure that these water systems are safe to use, disinfection is crucial during HWW treatment by providing “front line” defense against biological contaminations. Here, five disinfection processes, namely, chlorine (Cl2), chlorine dioxide (ClO2), ozone (O3), ultraviolet (UV)), and UV/chlorine (UV/Cl2), were selected to investigate their removal efficiencies for progesterones in primary filtration and secondary biological treatment effluents. There were 61 natural and synthetic progesterones detected in HWW, with the natural progesterones being the main components with a concentration of 845.51 ng/L and contributing to 75.08% of the total progesterones. The primary filtration treatment presented insignificant removal effects on the progesterones, while the secondary biological treatment significantly reduced the progesterone content by biodegradation. The order of removal efficiencies of total progesterones by different disinfection processes was UV/Cl2 > Cl2 > O3 > ClO2 > UV. UV/Cl2 showed the highest removal efficiency against progesterones mainly due to the activation of Cl2 by ultraviolet (UV) photolysis, which helps open the heterocyclic, aromatic, and phenolic rings, thus accelerating progesterone degradation. In addition, the removal efficiencies of natural progesterones in the five disinfection processes were higher than those of synthetic progesterones (progesterone derivatives, 19-nortestosterone derivatives, and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone derivatives).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acero J L, Benitez F J, Real F J, Roldan G (2010). Kinetics of aqueous chlorination of some pharmaceuticals and their elimination from water matrices. Water Research, 44(14): 4158–4170
Al-Awadi S, Afzal M, Oommen S (2002). Studies on Bacillus stearothermophilus: Part II. transformation of progesterone. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 82(2–3): 251–256
Antonopoulou M, Kosma C, Albanis T, Konstantinou L (2021). An overview of homogeneous and heterogeneous photocatalysis applications for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds from real or synthetic hospital wastewaters under lab or pilot scale. Science of the Total Environment, 765(2021): 144163
Azzouni F, Godoy A, Li Y, Mohler J (2012). The 5 alpha-reductase isozyme family: A review of basic biology and their role in human diseases. Advances in Urology, 2012: 1–18
Chang H, Wan Y, Hu J (2009). Determination and source apportionment of five classes of steroid hormones in urban rivers. Environmental Science & Technology, 43(20): 7691–7698
Chang H, Wan Y, Wu S, Fan Z, Hu J (2011). Occurrence of androgens and progestogens in wastewater treatment plants and receiving river waters: Comparison to estrogens. Water Research, 45(2): 732–740
DeBorDe M, Rabouan S, Gallard H, Legube B (2004). Aqueous chlorination kinetics of some endocrine disruptors. Environmental Science & Technology, 38(21): 5577–5583
DeBorDe M, von Gunten U (2008). Reactions of chlorine with inorganic and organic compounds during water treatment—Kinetics and mechanisms: A critical review. Water Research, 42(1–2): 13–51
Dong H, Qiang Z, Hu J, Qu J J W R (2017). Degradation of chloramphenicol by UV/chlorine treatment: Kinetics, mechanism and enhanced formation of halonitromethanes. Water Research, 121: 178–185
Donova M V, Egorova O V (2012). Microbial steroid transformations: Current state and prospects. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 94(6): 1423–1447
Feng L, Liu Y Z, Zhang L Q (2018). Degradation behaviors and genetic toxicity variations of pyrazolone pharmaceuticals during chlorine dioxide disinfection process. Chemical Engineering Journal, 345(1): 156–164
Fent K (2015). Progestins as endocrine disrupters in aquatic ecosystems: Concentrations, effects and risk assessment. Environment International, 84(NOV): 115–130
Giatti S, Melcangi R C, Pesaresi M (2016). The other side of progestins: Effects in the brain. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, 57(2): R109–R126
Hijnen W A M, Beerendonk E F, Medema G J (2006). Inactivation credit of UV radiation for viruses, bacteria and protozoan (oo)cysts in water: A review. Water Research, 40(1): 3–22
Hu J, Cheng S, Aizawa T, Terao Y, Kunikane S (2003). Products of aqueous chlorination of 17β-estradiol and their estrogenic activities. Environmental Science & Technology, 37(24): 5665–5670
Hua G, Reckhow D A (2013). Effect of pre-ozonation on the formation and speciation of DBPs. Water Research, 47(13): 4322–4330
Jobling S, Coey S, Whitmore J G, Kime D E, Van Look K J W, Mcallister B G, Beresford N, Henshaw A C, Brighty G, Tyler C R, Sumpter J P (2002). Wild intersex roach (rutilus rutilus) have reduced fertility. Biology of Reproduction, 67(2): 515–524
Khan B, Lee L S, Sassman, S A (2008). Degradation of synthetic androgens 17alpha- and 17beta-trenbolone and trendione in agricultural soils. Environmental Science & Technology, 42(10): 3570–3574
Khanal S K, Xie B, Thompson M L, Sung S, Ong S K, van Leeuwen J H (2006). Fate, transport, and biodegradation of natural estrogens in the environment and engineered systems. Environmental Science & Technology, 40(21): 6537–6546
Kolodziej E P, Gray J L, Sedlak D L (2003). Quantification of steroid hormones with pheromonal properties in municipal wastewater effluent. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 22(11): 2622–2629
Kumar V, Johnson A C, Trubiroha A, Tumova J, Ihara M, Grabic R, Kloas W, Tanaka H, Kroupova H K (2015). The challenge presented by progestins in ecotoxicological research: A critical review. Environmental Science & Technology, 49(5): 2625–2638
Liu S, Ying G G, Liu Y S, Peng F Q, He L Y (2013). Degradation of norgestrel by bacteria from activated sludge: Comparison to progesterone. Environmental Science & Technology, 47(18): 10266–10276
Liu S, Ying G G, Zhou L J, Zhang R Q, Chen Z F, Lai H J (2012). Steroids in a typical swine farm and their release into the environment. Water Research, 46(12): 3754–3768
Mash H, Schenck K, Rosenblum L (2010). Hypochlorite oxidation of select androgenic steroids. Water Research, 44(6): 1950–1960
Moriyama K, Matsufuji H, Chino M, Takeda M (2004). Identification and behavior of reaction products formed by chlorination of ethynylestradiol. Chemosphere, 55(6): 839–847
Nasri E, Machreki M, Beltifa A, Aroui S, Ghorbel A, Saad A, Feriani A, Borgi M A, Ghazouani L, Sire O, Balcázar J L, Mansour H B (2017a). Cytotoxic effects of seven Tunisian hospital wastewaters on the proliferation of human breast cancer cell line MDA-231: Correlation with their chemical characterization. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 24(25): 20422–20428
Nasri E, Subirats J, Sànchez-Melsió A, Mansour H B, Borrego C M, Balcázar J L (2017b). Abundance of carbapenemase genes (blaKPC, blaNDM and blaOXA-48) in wastewater effluents from Tunisian hospitals. Environmental Pollution, 229: 371–374
Navalon S, Alvaro M, Garcia H J W R (2008). Reaction of chlorine dioxide with emergent water pollutants: Product study of the reaction of three beta-lactam antibiotics with ClO2. Water Research, 42(8–9): 1935–1942
Ojoghoro J O, Chaudhary A J, Campo P, Sumpter J P, Scrimshaw M D (2017). Progesterone potentially degrades to potent androgens in surface waters. Science of the Total Environment, 579: 1876–1884
Pauwels B, Noppe H, De Brabander H, Verstraete W (2008). Comparison of steroid hormone concentrations in domestic and hospital wastewater treatment plants. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 134(11): 933–936
Pérez-Alvarez I, Islas-Flores H, Gómez-Oliván L M, Barceló D, López De Alda M, Pérez Solsona S, Sánchez-Aceves L, SanJuan-Reyes N, Galar-Martínez M (2018). Determination of metals and pharmaceutical compounds released in hospital wastewater from Toluca, Mexico, and evaluation of their toxic impact. Environmental Pollution, 240(SEP): 330–341
Pflug N C, Kupsco A, Kolodziej E P, Schlenk D, Teesch L M, Gloer J B, Cwiertny D M (2017). Formation of bioactive transformation products during glucocorticoid chlorination. Environmental Science. Water Research & Technology, 3(3): 450–461
Phillips K P, Foster W G (2008). Key developments in endocrine disrupter research and human health. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part B, Critical Reviews, 11(3–4): 322–344
Qin L, Lin Y L, Xu B, Hu C Y, Tian F X, Zhang T Y, Zhu W Q, Huang H, Gao N Y (2014). Kinetic models and pathways of ronidazole degradation by chlorination, UV irradiation and UV/chlorine processes. Water Research, 65(Nov. 15): 271–281
Rougé V, Allard S, Croué J P, von Gunten U (2018). In-situ formation of free chlorine during ClO2 treatment: Implications on the formation of disinfection by-products. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(22): 13421–13429
Saggioro E M, Chaves F P, Felix L C, Gomes G, Bila D M (2019). Endocrine disruptor degradation by UV/Chlorine and the impact of their removal on estrogenic activity and toxicity. International Journal of Photoenergy, 2019: 1–9
Sdiri-Loulizi K, Hassine M, Aouni Z, Gharbi-Khelifi H, Chouchane S, Sakly N, Neji-Guédiche M, Pothier P, Aouni M, Ambert-Balay K (2010). Detection and molecular characterization of enteric viruses in environmental samples in Monastir, Tunisia between January 2003 and April 2007. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 109(3): 1093–1104
Shen X, Chang H, Shao B, Sun F, Wu F (2019). Occurrence and mass balance of sixty-two progestins in a municipal sewage treatment plant. Water Research, 165(Nov. 15): 1–10
Sobey W S (2008). The handbook of contraception: A guide for practical management. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 53(1): 99–100
Souza D M, Reichert J F, Martins A F J C (2018). A simultaneous determination of anti-cancer drugs in hospital effluent by DLLME HPLC-FLD, together with a risk assessment. Chemosphere, 201(Jun): 178–188
Stanczyk F Z (2003). All progestins are not created equal. Steroids, 68(10–13): 879–890
Sumpter J P, Johnson A C (2005). Lessons from endocrine disruption and their application to other issues concerning trace organics in the aquatic environment. Environmental Science & Technology, 39(12): 4321–4332
Tang Y, Shi X, Liu Y, Feng L, Zhang L (2018). Degradation of clofibric acid in UV/chlorine disinfection process: Kinetics, reactive species contribution and pathways. Royal Society Open Science, 5(2): 171372
Verlicchi P, Al Aukidy M, Zambello E (2015). What have we learned from worldwide experiences on the management and treatment of hospital effluent? An overview and a discussion on perspectives. Science of the Total Environment, 514: 467–491
Verlicchi P, Aukidy M A, Galletti A, Petrovic M, Barcelo D (2012). Hospital effluent: Investigation of the concentrations and distribution of pharmaceuticals and environmental risk assessment. Science of The Total Environment, 430: 109–118
Vulliet E, Cren-Olive C (2011). Screening of pharmaceuticals and hormones at the regional scale, in surface and groundwaters intended to human consumption. Environmental Pollution, 159(10): 2929–2934
Yang Y Y, Pereyra L P, Young R B, Reardon K F, Borch T (2011). Testosterone-mineralizing culture enriched from swine manure: Characterization of degradation pathways and microbial community composition. Environmental Science & Technology, 45(16): 6879–6886
Yost E E, Meyer M T, Dietze J E, Williams C M, Worley-Davis L, Lee B, Kullman S W (2014). Transport of steroid hormones, phytoestrogens, and estrogenic activity across a swine lagoon/sprayfield system. Environmental Science & Technology, 48(19): 11600–11609
Zhang K, Zhao Y, Fent K (2017). Occurrence and ecotoxicological effects of free, conjugated, and halogenated steroids including 17α-Hydroxypregnanolone and pregnanediol in swiss wastewater and surface water. Environmental Science & Technology, 51(11): 6498–6506
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 42177051 and 41977317).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Highlights
• The concentrations of 61 progesterones in HWW, PFTE, SBTE were evaluated.
• The removal efficiencies of progesterones by PFT and SBT were identified.
• Compared the removal efficiencies of progesterones in five disinfection processes.
Supplemental Materials
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liang, J., Luo, Y., Li, B. et al. Removal efficiencies of natural and synthetic progesterones in hospital wastewater treated by different disinfection processes. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 16, 126 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-022-1558-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-022-1558-z