Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

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

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.

References

  • Ahel M, Giger W, Koch M (1994) Behaviour of alkylphenol polyethoxylate surfactants in the aquatic environment—I. Occurrence and transformation in sewage treatment. Water Res 28:1131–1142

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander HC, Dill DC, Smith LW, Guiney PD, Dorn P (1988) Bisphenol-A: acute aquatic toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 7:19–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • APHA (1998) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 20th ed. American Public Health Association, Port City Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

  • Arditsoglou A, Voutsa D (2010) Partitioning of endocrine disrupting compounds in inland waters and wastewaters discharged into the coastal area of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. Environ Sci Poll Res 17:529–538

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bendz D, Paxéus NA, Ginn TR, Loge FJ (2005) Occurrence and fate of pharmaceutically active compounds in the environment, a case study: Höje River in Sweden. J Hazard Mat 122:195–204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Birkett JW, Lester JN (2003) Endocrine disrupters in wastewater and sludge treatment processes, CRC Press LLC

  • Brooke LT (1993) Acute and chronic toxicity of nonylphenol to ten species of aquatic organisms. USEPA Draft Report, EPA Contract No 68-C1-0034

  • European Union (2001) Decision No 2455/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the council of 20 November 2001 establishing the list of priority substances in the field of water policy and amending directive 2000/60/EC, Off. J. L331, 15/12/2001

  • European Union (2003) Technical Guidance Document on Risk Assessment (Part II), European Chemicals Bureau

  • European Union (2006) Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy and amending Directive 2000/60/EC, 2006/0129, Brussels, 17.7.2006

  • Ferrari B, Mons R, Vollat B, Fraysse B, Paxeus N, Lo Gindice R, Pollio A, Garric J (2004) Environmental risk assessment of six human pharmaceuticals: Are the current environmental risk assessment procedures sufficient for the protection of the aquatic environment? Environ Tox Chem 23:1344–1354

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Galan MJ, Diaz-Cruz MS, Barcelo D (2011) Occurrence of sulfonamide residues along the Ebro river basin: removal in wastewater treatment plants and environmental impact assessment. Environ Int 37:462–473

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez MJ, Martinez Bueno MJ, Lacorte S, Fernandez-Alba AR, Aguera A (2007) Pilot survey monitoring pharmaceuticals and related compounds in a sewage treatment plant located on the Mediterranean coast. Chemosphere 66:993–1002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez S, Petrovic M, Barcelo D (2007) Removal of a broad range of surfactants from municipal wastewater—comparison between membrane bioreactor and conventional activated sludge treatment. Chemosphere 67:335–343

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gros M, Petrovic M, Ginebreda A, Barcelo D (2010) Removal of pharmaceuticals during wastewater treatment and environmental risk assessment using hazard indexes. Environ Int 36:15–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halden RU, Paull DH (2005) Co-occurrence of triclocarban and triclosan in U.S. water resources. Environ Sci Technol 39:1420–1426

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halling-Sorensen B, Nors Nielsen S, Lanzky PF, Ingerslev F, Holten Lutzhoft HC, Jorgenses SE (1998) Occurrence, fate and effects of pharmaceutical substances in the environment—a review. Chemosphere 36:357–393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jonkers N, Kohler HPE, Dammshauser A, Giger W (2009) Mass flows of endocrine disruptors in the Glatt River during varying weather conditions. Environ Poll 157:714–723

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Dinsdale RM, Guwy AJ (2008) The occurrence of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine disruptors and illicit drugs in surface water in South Wales, UK. Water Res 42:3498–3518

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim Y, Choi K, Jung J, Park S, Kim PG, Park J (2007) Aquatic toxicity of acetaminophen, carbamazepine, cimetidine, diltiazem and six major sulfonamides, and their potential ecological risks in Korea. Environ Int 33:370–375

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kolpin DW, Furlong ET, Meyer MT, Thurman EM, Zaugg SD, Barber LB, Buxton HT (2002) Pharmaceuticals, hormones and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. Streams, 1999–2000: a national reconnaissance. Environ Sci Technol 36:1202–1211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kopf W (1997) Wirkung endokriner stoffe in biotests mit wasserogranismen. In Stoffe mit endokriner wirkung in wasser. Bayerisches landesamt fur wasserwitschaft, Institut fur Wasserforschung Munchen (ed) Oldenbourg

  • Lindberg RH, Bjorklund K, Rendahl P, Johansson MI, Tysklind M, Andersson BAV (2007) Environmental risk assessment of antibiotics in the Swedish environment with emphasis on sewage treatment plants. Water Res 41:613–619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loos R, Gawlik BM, Locoro G, Rimaviciute E, Contini S, Bidoglio G (2009) EU-wide survey of polar organic persistent pollutants in European river waters. Environ Pollut 157:561–568

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Möder M, Braun P, Lange F, Schrader S, Lorenz W (2007) Determination of endocrine disrupting compounds and acidic drugs in water by coupling of derivatization, gas chromatography and negative-chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Clean 35:444–451

    Google Scholar 

  • Nassef M, Matsumoto S, Seki M, Kang IJ, Moroishi J, Shimasaki Y, Oshima Y (2009) Pharmaceuticals and personal care products toxicity to Japanese medaka fish (Oryzias latipes). J Fac Agr Kyushu U 54:407–411

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Orvos DR, Versteeg DJ, Inauen J, Capdevielle M, Rothenstein A, Cunningham V (2002) Aquatic toxicity of triclosan. Environ Toxicol Chem 21:1338–1349

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peng X, Yu Y, Tang C, Tan J, Xuang Q, Wang Z (2008) Occurrence of steroid estrogens, endocrine-disrupting phenols, and acid pharmaceutical residues in urban riverine water of the Pearl River Delta, South China. Sci Total Environ 397:158–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pomati F, Netting AG, Calamari D, Neilan BA (2004) Effects of erythromycin, tetracycline and ibuprofen on the growth of Synechocystis sp. and Lemna minor. Aquat Toxicol 67:387–396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pomati F, Orlandi C, Clerici M, Luciani F, Zuccato E (2008) Effects and interactions in an environmentally relevant mixture of pharmaceuticals. Toxicol Sci 102:129–137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pothitou P, Voutsa D (2008) Endocrine disrupting compounds in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants in Northern Greece. Chemosphere 73:1716–1723

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn B, Gagné F, Blaise C (2009) Evaluation of the acute, chronic and teratogenic effects of a mixture of eleven pharmaceuticals on the cnidarian, Hydra attenuate. Sci Total Environ 407:1072–1079

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samaras VG, Thomaidis NS, Stasinakis AS, Gatidou G, Lekkas TD (2010) Determination of selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in wastewater by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Int J Environ Anal Chem 90:219–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samaras VG, Thomaidis NS, Stasinakis AS, Lekkas TD (2011) An analytical method for the simultaneous trace determination of acidic pharmaceuticals and phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals in wastewater and sewage sludge by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 399:2549–2561

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanderson H, Johnson DJ, Wilson CJ, Brain RA, Solomon KR (2003) Probabilistic hazard assessment of environmentally occurring pharmaceuticals toxicity to fish, daphnids and algae by ECOSAR screening. Toxicol Lett 144:383–395

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singer H, Muller S, Tixier C, Pillonel L (2002) Triclosan: occurrence and fate of a widely used biocide in the aquatic environment: field measurements in wastewater treatment plants, surface waters, and lake sediments. Environ Sci Technol 36:4998–5004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Staples CA, Dorn PB, Klecka GM, O’Block ST, Haris LR (1998) A review of the environmental fate, effects, and exposures of bisphenol A. Chemosphere 36:2149–2173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stasinakis AS, Gatidou G, Mamais D, Thomaidis NS, Lekkas TD (2008) Occurrence and fate of endocrine disrupters in Greek sewage treatment plants. Water Res 42:1796–1804

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson RR (1983) Diphenylol propane: acute toxicity to Daphna magna and Selenastrum capricornutum. Shell group research report SBGR.83.216

  • Yoon Y, Ryu J, Oh J, Choi BG, Snyder SA (2010) Occurrence of endocrine disrupting compounds, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products in the Han River (Seoul, South Korea). Sci Total Environ 408:636–643

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Geiben SU, Gal C (2008) Carbamazepine and diclofenac: removal in wastewater treatment plants and occurrence in water bodies. Chemosphere 73:1151–1161

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou JL, Zhang ZL, Banks E, Grover E, Jiang JK (2009) Pharmaceutical residues in wastewater treatment works effluents and their impact on receiving river water. J Haz Mater 166:655–661

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

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
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Smaragdi Mermigka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Vasilios G. Samaras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eleni Farmaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nikolaos S. Thomaidis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Athanasios S. Stasinakis.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Henner Hollert

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

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

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

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

Keywords

Search

Navigation