Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Occurrence, Profiles and Ecological Risk of Bisphenol Analogues in a Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant

  • Published:
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Due to the strict control on bisphenol A (BPA) in many countries, bisphenol analogues (BPs) are being widely used as alternative materials to manufacture epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics, resulting in their occurrence in sewage treatment plants (STPs). In this study, the occurrence and distribution of 7 BPs in a large-scale STP in Beijing China was investigated. Wastewater samples were collected from the influents and effluents of each processing unit, and extracted by solid-phase extraction. Target compounds were quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS). The total concentrations of seven BPs (ΣBPs) were 400.42 ± 48.12 ng/L in the raw sewage, 438.60 ± 46.50 ng/L in the primary effluent, 17.21 ± 13.12 ng/L in the secondary effluent, and 11.33 ± 4.84 ng/L in the tertiary effluent, respectively. Bisphenol S (BPS) and BPA were the predominant congener in raw sewage with an overall contribution of 29.32% and 70.22% to the ΣBPs, indicating that there was a large amount of BPS and BPA consumption in the study area. During a one-week sampling period, ΣBPs changed slightly at the same sampling site. It was found that high removal efficiencies were achieved for BPs in anoxic and oxic secondary clarifier treatment units, suggesting that biodegradation and sorption played major roles in BPs elimination in the STP. After tertiary treatment, all BPs except BPA were completely removed, suggesting the necessity to investigate the fate and toxicity of BPA in the aquatic environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker ME, Chandsawangbhuwana C (2012) 3D models of MBP, a biologically active metabolite of bisphenol A, in human estrogen receptor α and estrogen receptor β [J]. PLoS ONE 7(10):e46078

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blair BD, Crago JP, Hedman CJ et al (2013) Pharmaceuticals and personal care products found in the Great Lakes above concentrations of environmental concern [J]. Chemosphere 93(9):2116–2123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caballero-Casero N, Lunar L, Rubio S (2016) Analytical methods for the determination of mixtures of bisphenols and derivatives in human and environmental exposure sources and biological fluids A review [J]. Anal Chim Acta 908:22–53

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cirja M, Ivashechkin P, Schaffer A (2008) Factors affecting the removal of organic micropollutants from wastewater in conventional treatment plants (CTP) and membrane bioreactors (MBR) [J]. Reviews in Environmental Science & Bio/technology 7(1):61–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Costanza J, Lynch DG, Boethling RS et al (2012) Use of the bioaccumulation factor to screen chemicals for bioaccumulation potential [J]. Environ Toxicol Chem 3(10):2261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandezfontaina E, Omil F, Lema JM et al (2012) Influence of nitrifying conditions on the biodegradation and sorption of emerging micropollutants [J]. Water Res 46(16):5434–5444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Golovko O, Kumar V, Fedorova G et al (2014) Removal and seasonal variability of selected analgesics/anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive/cardiovascular pharmaceuticals and UV filters in wastewater treatment plant [J]. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21(12):7578–7585

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gramec SD, Peterlin ML (2016) Bisphenol A and its analogs: do their metabolites have endocrine activity? [J]. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 47:182–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerra P, Kim M, Teslic S et al (2015) Bisphenol-A removal in various wastewater treatment processes: operational conditions, mass balance, and optimization [J]. J Environ Manage 152(2):192–200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haifeng Z et al (2018) Occurrence and exposure assessment of bisphenol analogues in source water and drinking water in China [J]. Sci Total Environ 655:607–613

    Google Scholar 

  • He YJ, Chen W, Zheng XY et al (2013) Fate and removal of typical pharmaceuticals and personal care products by three different treatment processes [J]. Sci Total Environ 447(1):248–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heinonen J, Honkanen J, Kukkonen JV et al (2002) Bisphenol A accumulation in the freshwater clam Pisidium amnicum at low temperatures. Arch Environ Contaminat Toxicol 43(1):50–55

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koh YK, Chiu TY, Boobis A et al (2008) Treatment and removal strategies for estrogens from wastewater [J]. Environ Technol 29(3):245–267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee S, Liu X, Takeda S et al (2013) Genotoxic potentials and related mechanisms of bisphenol A and other bisphenol compounds: A comparison study employing chicken DT40 cells [J]. Chemosphere 93(2):434–440

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee S, Liao C, Song GJ et al (2015) Emission of bisphenol analogues including bisphenol A and bisphenol F from wastewater treatment plants in Korea [J]. Chemosphere 119(119C):1000–1006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li D, Zhou Z, Qing D et al (2010) Occupational exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA) and the risk of self-reported male sexual dysfunction [J]. Hum Reprod 25(2):519–527

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liao C, Liu F, Guo Y et al (2012a) Occurrence of eight bisphenol analogues in indoor dust from the united states and several asian countries: implications for human exposure [J]. Environ Sci Technol 46(16):9138–9145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liao C, Liu F, Moon HB et al (2012b) Bisphenol analogues in sediments from industrialized areas in the United States, Japan, and Korea: spatial and temporal distributions [J]. Environ Sci Technol 46(21):11558–11565

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu YH, Zhang SH, Ji GX et al (2016) Occurrence, distribution and risk assessment of suspected endocrine-disrupting chemicals in surface water and suspended particulate matter of Yangtze River (Nanjing section) [J]. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 135:90–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu J, Wu J, Stoffella PJ et al (2015) Uptake and distribution of bisphenol A and nonylphenol in vegetable crops irrigated with reclaimed water. J Hazardous Mater 283:865–870

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nie M, Yan C, Dong W et al (2015) Occurrence, distribution and risk assessment of estrogens in surface water, suspended particulate matter, and sediments of the Yangtze Estuary [J]. Chemosphere 127:109–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perez P, Olea N (1998) The estrogenicity of bisphenol a-related diphenylalkanes with various substituents at the central carbon and the hydroxy groups [J]. Environ Health Perspect 106(3):167–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qian Y, Jia X, Ding T et al (2021) Occurrence and removal of bisphenol analogues in wastewater treatment plants and activated sludge bioreactor [J]. Sci Total Environ 758:143606

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodayan A, Segura PA, Yargeau V (2014) Ozonation of wastewater: removal and transformation products of drugs of abuse [J]. Sci Total Environ 487(14):763–770

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song S, Song M, Zeng L et al (2014) Occurrence and profiles of bisphenol analogues in municipal sewage sludge in China [J]. Environ Pollut 186(1):14–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Q, Wang Y, Li Y et al (2017) Fate and mass balance of bisphenol analogues in wastewater treatment plants in Xiamen City, China [J]. Environ Pollut 225:542–549

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Usman A, Ahmad M (2016) From BPA to its analogues: Is it a safe journey? [J]. Chemosphere 158:131–142

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Q, Lam JCW, Kwok KY et al (2017) Occurrence and fate of endogenous steroid hormones, alkylphenol ethoxylates, bisphenol A and phthalates in municipal sewage treatment systems [J]. J Environ Sci 61(11):49–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xue J, Kannan K (2018) Mass flows and removal of eight bisphenol analogs, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and its derivatives in two wastewater treatment plants in New York State, USA [J]. Sci Total Environ 648:442–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xue W, Wu C, Xiao K et al (2010) Elimination and fate of selected micro-organic pollutants in a full-scale anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic process combined with membrane bioreactor for municipal wastewater reclamation [J]. Water Res 44(20):5999–6010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamazaki E, Yamashita N, Taniyasu S et al (2015) Bisphenol A and other bisphenol analogues including BPS and BPF in surface water samples from Japan, China, Korea and India [J]. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 122:565–572

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Lu L, Zhang J et al (2014) Simultaneous determination of seven bisphenols in environmental water and solid samples by liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry [J]. J Chromatogr A 1328(3):26–34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeo M, Patisaul H, Liedtke W (2013) Decoding the language of epigenetics during neural development is key for understanding development as well as developmental neurotoxicity [J]. Epigenetics Off J Dna Methylat Soc 8(11):1128–1132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao J, Li Y, Zhang C et al (2008) Sorption and degradation of bisphenol A by aerobic activated sludge [J]. J Hazard Mater 155(1–2):305–311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41673120) and the Research on Environmental Safety Monitoring, Assessment and Early Warning Technology of Centralized Drinking Water Source (2018002).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Henan Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Rehabilitation Technology, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, 467036, China

    Deming Gu, Zhongxian Song, Haiyan Kang & Yanli Mao

  2. School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Deming Gu & Qiyan Feng

Authors
  1. Deming Gu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhongxian Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Haiyan Kang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yanli Mao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Qiyan Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yanli Mao or Qiyan Feng.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gu, D., Song, Z., Kang, H. et al. Occurrence, Profiles and Ecological Risk of Bisphenol Analogues in a Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 106, 1044–1049 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-021-03214-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-021-03214-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation