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The fate of steroid estrogens: partitioning during wastewater treatment and onto river sediments

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Abstract

The partitioning of steroid estrogens in wastewater treatment and receiving waters is likely to influence their discharge to, and persistence in, the environment. This study investigated the partitioning behaviour of steroid estrogens in both laboratory and field studies. Partitioning onto activated sludge from laboratory-scale Husmann units was rapid with equilibrium achieved after 1 h. Sorption isotherms and Kd values decreased in the order 17α-ethinyl estradiol > 17α-estradiol > estrone > estriol without a sorption limit being achieved (1/n >1). Samples from a wastewater treatment works indicated no accumulation of steroid estrogens in solids from primary or secondary biological treatment, however, a range of steroid estrogens were identified in sediment samples from the River Thames. This would indicate that partitioning in the environment may play a role in the long-term fate of estrogens, with an indication that they will be recalcitrant in anaerobic conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    Rachel L. Gomes

  2. Institute for the Environment, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, UK

    Mark D. Scrimshaw

  3. Centre for Water Science, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK

    Elise Cartmell & John N. Lester

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  1. Rachel L. Gomes
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  2. Mark D. Scrimshaw
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  3. Elise Cartmell
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  4. John N. Lester
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Correspondence to Rachel L. Gomes or Elise Cartmell.

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Gomes, R.L., Scrimshaw, M.D., Cartmell, E. et al. The fate of steroid estrogens: partitioning during wastewater treatment and onto river sediments. Environ Monit Assess 175, 431–441 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1541-1

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