Assessing the estrogenic potency in a Portuguese wastewater treatment plantusing an integrated approach
M′ario S. Diniz , Rita Maur′?cio , Mira Petrovic , Maria J. L′opez De Alda , Leonor Amaral , Isabel Peres , Dami′a Barcel′o , Fernando Santana
DOI:
Received November 26, 2009,Revised January 15, 2010, Accepted , Available online
Volume 22,2010,Pages 1613-1622
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The estrogenic potency of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was evaluated using chemical and biological analyses, which
showed that after the station treatment processes some of the selected endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs) were still present in
the treated e uent (e.g., bisphenol A, alkylphenols, estrone). Thus, the most common endocrine EDCs were identified and quantified
and the overall estrogenicity of the treated e uent assessed by integrating the results. Male goldfish (Carassius auratus) were used as
biological indicators in a 28-day experiment. Vitellogenin (Vtg), gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices, steroids (17 -estradiol and
11-ketotestosterone) and histopathology were biomarkers used in fish to evaluate WWTP treated e uent estrogenicity, in combination
with instrumental analyses. The results showed a significant increase (P < 0.01) in plasma and liver Vtg, which were significantly
correlated (r = 0.66; P < 0.01). The gonadosmatic index was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced in exposed fish. The steroid analyses
revealed significant elevations in 17 -estradiol and depressed 11-ketotestosterone concentrations. The histological examinations show
changes in exposed fish gonads, such as regressed testes and in some cases (43% to 75%) the development of ovo-testis in fish exposed
to 50% and 100% treated e uent.
