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Occurrence of endocrine disrupters and selected pharmaceuticals in Aisonas River (Greece) and environmental risk assessment using hazard indexes

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Abstract

Purpose

The presence of four phenolic endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs: nonylphenol [NP], NP monoethoxylate[NP1EO], bisphenol A [BPA], triclosan, [TCS]) and four nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs: ibuprofen[IBF], ketoprofen [KFN], naproxen [NPX], diclofenac [DCF]) in a Greek river receiving treated municipal wastewater was investigated in this study.

Methods

Samples were taken from four different points of the river and from the outlet of a sewage treatment plant (STP) during six sampling campaigns, and they were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.

Results

According to the results, EDCs were detected in almost all samples, whereas NSAIDs were detected mainly in wastewater and in the part of the river that receives wastewater from the STP. Among the target compounds, the highest mean concentrations in the river were detected for NP (1,345 ng L−1) and DCF (432 ng L−1). Calculation of daily loads of the target compounds showed that STP seems to be the major source of NSAIDs to the river, whereas other sources contribute significantly to the occurrence of EDCs. The environmental risk due to the presence of target compounds in river water was estimated, calculating risk quotients for different aquatic organisms (algae, daphnids, and fish). Results denoted the possible threat for the aquatic environment due to the presence of NP and TCS in the river.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water and Air Quality Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, Mytilene, 81 100, Greece

    Athanasios S. Stasinakis, Smaragdi Mermigka & Vasilios G. Samaras

  2. Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Zografou, Athens, 157 71, Greece

    Eleni Farmaki & Nikolaos S. Thomaidis

Authors
  1. Athanasios S. Stasinakis
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  2. Smaragdi Mermigka
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  3. Vasilios G. Samaras
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  4. Eleni Farmaki
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  5. Nikolaos S. Thomaidis
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Correspondence to Athanasios S. Stasinakis.

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Responsible editor: Henner Hollert

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Stasinakis, A.S., Mermigka, S., Samaras, V.G. et al. Occurrence of endocrine disrupters and selected pharmaceuticals in Aisonas River (Greece) and environmental risk assessment using hazard indexes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 1574–1583 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0661-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0661-7

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