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Differential BPA levels in sewage wastewater effluents from metro Detroit communities

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Abstract

The endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA) is ubiquitous in both aquatic and surface sediment environments because it is continuously released into sewage wastewater effluent. The measurement of BPA at wastewater treatment plants is rarely performed even though the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that current levels of environmental BPA could be a threat to aquatic organisms. Therefore, the aims of this study were to measure BPA levels in sewage wastewater at different collection points over a 1-year period and to compare the levels of BPA to 8-isoprostane, a human derived fatty acid, found in sewage wastewater. We analyzed pre-treated sewage samples collected from three source points located in different communities in the metropolitan Detroit area provided by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. Human urine samples were also used in the study. BPA and 8-isoprostane were measured using ELISA kits from Detroit R&D, Inc. BPA levels from the same collection point oscillated more than 10-fold over 1 year. Also, BPA levels fluctuated differentially at each collection point. Highly fluctuating BPA values were confirmed by LC/MS/MS. The concentration of BPA in sewage wastewater was ~100-fold higher than the concentration of 8-isoprostane, while urinary concentration was ~20-fold higher. Thus, BPA levels discharged into the sewage network vary among communities, and differences are also observed within communities over time. The difference in BPA and 8-isoprostane levels suggest that most of the BPA discharged to sewage wastewater might be derived from industries rather than from human urine. Therefore, the continuous monitoring of BPA could account for a better regulation of BPA release into a sewage network.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Lumigen Instrument Center, Wayne State University, (Detroit, MI) for the use of the Shimadzu Nextera X2 UHPLC-MS-MS which was purchased through support of a Shimadzu grant and the technical assistance provided by Johnna Birbeck and Nicole Lenca.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Detroit R&D, Inc., 2727 2nd Avenue Suit 4113, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA

    Julia M. Santos, David A. Putt, Aby Joiakim & Hyesook Kim

  2. Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, Detroit, MI, USA

    Michael Jurban

  3. Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI, USA

    Klaus Friedrich

Authors
  1. Julia M. Santos
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  2. David A. Putt
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  3. Michael Jurban
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  4. Aby Joiakim
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  5. Klaus Friedrich
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  6. Hyesook Kim
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Correspondence to Hyesook Kim.

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Michael Jurban and Klaus Friedrich declare that they have no competing interests. Hyesook Kim is the president of Detroit R&D, Inc. and has a commercial interest. Julia M. Santos, David Putt and Aby Joiakin also work for Detroit R&D, Inc.

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Santos, J.M., Putt, D.A., Jurban, M. et al. Differential BPA levels in sewage wastewater effluents from metro Detroit communities. Environ Monit Assess 188, 585 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5593-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5593-8

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