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Total estrogenic activity and nonylphenol concentration in the Donggang River, Taiwan

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Abstract

We report a survey on the occurrence and distribution of nonylphenol (NP) and 17β-estradiol equivalent quotient (EEQ) concentrations in Donggang River, Taiwan. Concentrations of NP were measured with a high-performance liquid chromatography/fluorescent system and EEQs were carried with an MVLN cell line. Concentrations of NP ranged from less than 93 to 511 ng/L; EEQs ranged from less than 0.16 to 8.64 ng-E2/L. Concentrations of NP were higher in the dry season than in the wet season, which was affected by a high flow rate. In the main watercourse, higher EEQ occurred in the wet season than in the dry season; rainfall may have flushed substances containing estrogenic activity. NP and EEQ concentrations occurred in seawater only in the dry season, especially high EEQ values, and were not detected in the wet season. The reasons are not clear at this moment. Furthermore, NP concentrations provided low contribution to the total estrogenic activity.

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  1. Department of Environmental Resources Management, Tajen University, 20, Wei-Shin Road, Enpu, Pingtung, 90741, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Meei-Fang Shue

  2. Department of Pharmacy, Tajen University, 20, Wei-Shin Road, Enpu, Pingtung, 90741, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Fu-An Chen

  3. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, 1, Hseuh Fu Road, Neipu, Pingtung, 91201, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Ting-Chien Chen

  4. Emerging Compounds Research Center, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, 1, Hseuh Fu Road, Neipu, Pingtung, 91201, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Ting-Chien Chen

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  1. Meei-Fang Shue
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Shue, MF., Chen, FA. & Chen, TC. Total estrogenic activity and nonylphenol concentration in the Donggang River, Taiwan. Environ Monit Assess 168, 91–101 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1093-4

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