Estrogen occurrence and persistence in vernal pools impacted by wastewater irrigation practices

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment ecosystems & environment, 2018-04, Vol.257, p.103-112
• Main Authors: Mina, Odette, Gall, Heather E., Elliott, Herschel A., Watson, John E., Mashtare, Michael L., Langkilde, Tracy, Harper, Jeremy P., Boyer, Elizabeth W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 17β-Estradiol; Conservation practices; Data processing; Dissolved oxygen; Effluent treatment; Effluents; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Environmental impact; Estrogens; Estrone; Ethinylestradiol; Irrigation; Irrigation practices; Larvae; Oxidation; Oxidation-reduction potential; Oxygen; Pools; Rainfall; Redox potential; Reducing conditions; Sex hormones; Spray irrigation; Vernal pools; Wastewater; Wastewater irrigation; Wastewater treatment; Water analysis; Water levels; Water quality; Water sampling; Water temperature; Water treatment
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2018.01.022

[Display omitted] •Three vernal pools impacted by wastewater irrigation were sampled for estrogens.•A sampling period from April to June 2015 coincided with amphibian metamorphosis.•Estrogens persisted throughout the study period and were in nearly 100% of samples.•Only E1 was in the wastewater, yet E1, 17α-E2 17β-E2, E3 and EE2 were in the ponds.•Estrogens were observed at low levels (>1 ng/L) known to impact aquatic ecosystems. Planned beneficial re-use of water has become an increasingly common conservation practice worldwide, sparking questions about the degree of water treatment needed to mitigate negative environmental impacts. Since the early 1980s, as an alternative to surface discharge, the Pennsylvania State University has spray-irrigated all of its treated wastewater effluent via land application onto an environmental setting known as the “Living Filter” site (∼245 ha). The impacts of spray irrigation on nearby ephemeral wetlands, known as vernal pools, were explored. The pools gain water from both natural rainfall and spray-irrigation of the University’s treated wastewater. The occurrence and persistence of estrogens in three vernal pools were quantified by analyzing >137 water samples collected from the pools over an eight-week period coincident with the development period of native amphibian larvae. Additionally, dissolved oxygen, oxidation-reduction potential, water level, water temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, and rainfall data were measured continuously throughout the study period within each pool. Further, the treated wastewater effluent was sampled during each weekly spray-irrigation event. Estrone was detected in nearly 100% of the vernal pool samples, with concentrations up to 6.2 ng L−1. Additionally, 17α-estradiol was not detected in the wastewater effluent, but was present in 52% of the vernal pool samples. 17β-estradiol, estriol, and 17α-ethinylestradiol were detected in fewer than 10% of the vernal pool samples. The findings of this research have important implications for management practices that can help protect these critical habitats.