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An assessment of endocrine activity in Australian rivers using chemical and in vitro analyses

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Abstract

Studies on endocrine disruption in Australia have mainly focused on wastewater effluents. Limited knowledge exists regarding the relative contribution of different potential sources of endocrine active compounds (EACs) to the aquatic environment (e.g., pesticide run-off, animal farming operations, urban stormwater, industrial inputs). In this study, 73 river sites across mainland Australia were sampled quarterly for 1 year. Concentrations of 14 known EACs including natural and synthetic hormones and industrial compounds were quantified by chemical analysis. EACs were detected in 88 % of samples (250 of 285) with limits of quantification (LOQ) ranging from 0.05 to 20 ng/l. Bisphenol A (BPA; LOQ = 20 ng/l) was the most frequently detected EAC (66 %) and its predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) was exceeded 24 times. The most common hormone was estrone, detected in 28 % of samples (LOQ = 1 ng/l), and the PNEC was also exceeded 24 times. 17α-Ethinylestradiol (LOQ = 0.05 ng/l) was detected in 10 % of samples at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.17 ng/l. It was detected in many samples with no wastewater influence, and the PNEC was exceeded 13 times. In parallel to the chemical analysis, endocrine activity was assessed using a battery of CALUX bioassays. Estrogenic activity was detected in 19 % (53 of 285) of samples (LOQ = 0.1 ng/l 17β-estradiol equivalent; EEQ). Seven samples exhibited estrogenic activity (1–6.5 ng/l EEQ) greater than the PNEC for 17β-estradiol. Anti-progestagenic activity was detected in 16 % of samples (LOQ = 8 ng/l mifepristone equivalents; MifEQ), but the causative compounds are unknown. With several compounds and endocrine activity exceeding PNEC values, there is potential risk to the Australian freshwater ecosystems.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of E. Prochazka and T. Teo for their laboratory analysis, and M. Allinson, J. Blackbeard, H. Chapman, S. Codi-King, A. Colville, D. Gale, B. Harper, M. Mortimer, and T. Reitsema for their input in planning and implementation during this project. Sampling could not have been completed without the dedication of many industry partners, whose support we gratefully acknowledge. This study was funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC Linkage scheme LP100100163) in collaboration with Water Research Australia, Sydney Water, Seqwater and Melbourne Water, and supported in-kind by the Queensland Department of Science, Information, Technology, Innovation and the Arts (DSITIA) and the Western Australia Department of Water. P.S. was supported with an Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry) scholarship and Water Research Australia PhD top-up scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia

    Philip D. Scott & Frederic D. L. Leusch

  2. Seqwater, PO Box 16146, Brisbane City East, Queensland, 4002, Australia

    Michael Bartkow

  3. Sydney Water Corporation, PO Box 399, Parramatta, New South Wales, 2124, Australia

    Stephen J. Blockwell

  4. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia

    Heather M. Coleman, Stuart J. Khan & James A. McDonald

  5. School of the Environment, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, New South Wales, 2007, Australia

    Richard Lim

  6. Water Science Branch, Department of Water, Government of Western Australia, PO Box K822, Perth, Western Australia, 6842, Australia

    Helen Nice

  7. School of Applied Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia

    Dayanthi Nugegoda

  8. Melbourne Water, PO Box 4342, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia

    Vincent Pettigrove

  9. School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, PO Box 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

    Louis A. Tremblay

  10. Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, Nelson, 7042, New Zealand

    Louis A. Tremblay

  11. Water Quality and Investigations, Department of Science, Information, Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Queensland Government, GPO Box 5078, Brisbane, Queensland, 4001, Australia

    Michael St. J. Warne

  12. Smart Water Research Centre (G51), Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia

    Frederic D. L. Leusch

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  1. Philip D. Scott
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Scott, P.D., Bartkow, M., Blockwell, S.J. et al. An assessment of endocrine activity in Australian rivers using chemical and in vitro analyses. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 12951–12967 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3235-7

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