Pollutants endocrine-disrupting compounds

The efficiency of type II organoclays in taking up organic pollutants from water is also apparent from the data in Figs. 7 and 8 showing the removal of naphthalene and 17P-estradiol (an endocrine-disrupting compound) by octadecyltrimethylammonium-montmorillonite (Yuan 2004). 

Kimura K., G. Amy, J.E. Drewes, T. Heberer, T-U. Kim, and Y. Watanabe (2003). Rejection of organic micro-pollutants (disinfection by-products, endocrine disrupting compounds, and pharmaceutically active compounds) by NF/RO membranes. Journal of Membrane Science 227 113-121. 

Ratnaningsih, D., Helmy, M., Bagus, B.E., Nety, W., Heni, P., 2002. A survey on water pollution by endocrine disrupter compounds Monitoring of organochlorine pesticides,... 

Steroids hormones as environmental pollutants Analysis of steroids as environmental endocrine disrupting compounds sample preparation, e.g., LLE vs. SPE immunoassay vs. GC-MS/ MS and LC-MS/MS analyses sensitivities, e.g., LOD at pg-ng/mL level. [13]... 

Analytical needs and opportunities in this area are challenging, particularly for pollutants of emerging concern such as endocrine disrupting compounds and pharmaceutical derivatives. Direct spectroscopic measurements of the sort than can be used for atmospheric measurements are not usually applicable. Sample collection, preparation, and analysis typically have been carried out in separate steps. Consequently, the development of techniques for in situ measurement capability, remote sensing and detection, and sensors for monitoring in soil and water would afford significant progress. 

Diosgenin is the primary precursor for the commercial production of cortisone, oral contraceptives (OCs), and many other steroid drugs. Unluckily, both natural and synthetic steroid drugs are powerful endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) which can cause reproductive toxicity and affect cellular development in mammals and are generally regarded as a serious contributor to water pollution. Hence, research interests of many scientists focus on the biotransformation and degradation of steroid compounds. 

In compliance with national and international directives, regular environmental monitoring is demanded, which requires appropriate analytical methods for fast and sensitive detection of relevant compounds such as pesticides (organophosphorus, carbamates, organochlorine, etc.), phenols, BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and total xylenes and o-, m- and p-xylene) and priority pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other endocrine disrupting compounds. 

There is some evidence for chemically mediated endocrine disruption in amphibians. The egg yolk protein, vitellogenin, is inducible in amphibians by exposure to DDT. " Males of the short clawed toad Xenopus laevis given 250 fig/g or 1 fig/g o,p -DDT for seven days have been shown to produce vitellogenin, although the induction was less than that achieved by treatment with 1 fig/g of either 17/1-oestradiol or diethylstilboestrol. Research has also shown that endocrine disrupting chemicals can alter sex ratios in wild populations of certain species PCB congeners and organochlorine compounds have been linked with male domination of sex ratios in polluted compared to unpolluted sites. ... 

From the wide variety of emerging pollutants of industrial origin that could be considered here, bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalate esters (PE) are of especial relevance not only because of the high volumes produced and their widespread use, but also because of their demonstrated toxicity, particularly as endocrine disrupters. Both of them have been included in the final report of the European Commission toward the establishment of a priority list of endocrine disrupter chemicals, EDCs [3], and have been rated as of high risk of exposure for human and wildlife populations. Because of their structural characteristics these compounds cannot be included in any of the groups described above, so they will be described in this section (see Fig. 10). 

Among the emerging pollutants of industrial origin, Bisphenol A [2,2 bis(4-hydroxydiphenyl)pro-pane] (BPA) has special relevance since it was one of the first chemicals discovered to mimic estrogens as endocrine disrupters.147 This compound was first reported by Dianin in 1891.1411 BPA is produced in large quantities worldwide, mainly for the preparation of polycarbonates, epoxy resins, and unsaturated polyester-styrene resins.149 The final products are used in many ways, such as coatings on cans, powder paints, additives in thermal paper, in dental composite fillings, and even as antioxidants in plasticizers or polymerization inhibitors in polyvinyl chloride (PVC). To a minor extent, BPA is also used as precursor for flame retardants such as tetrabromobisphenol A or tetrabromobisphenol-S-bis(2,3-dibromopropyl) ether.150 This substance can enter the environment... 

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