Estrogenic Hormones in São Paulo Waters (Brazil) and Their Relationship with Environmental Variables and Sinapis alba Phytotoxicity

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2020-04, Vol.231 (4), Article 150
• Main Authors: Coelho, Lucia Helena Gomes, de Jesus, Tatiane Araújo, Kohatsu, Marcio Yukihiro, Poccia, Geovana Tognella, Chicarolli, Vitor, Helwig, Karin, Hunter, Colin, Roberts, Joanne, Teedon, Paul, Pahl, Ole
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 17β-Estradiol; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bio-assays; Bioassays; Cartridges; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Correlation; Dilution; Earth and Environmental Science; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Endocrine disruptors; Environment; Environmental monitoring; Ethinylestradiol; Germination; Hormones; Hydrogeology; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Metropolitan areas; Phosphorus; Phytotoxicity; Pollutants; Pollution monitoring; Protected areas; Quadrupoles; Reservoirs; Rivers; Sampling; Sex hormones; Sinapis alba; Soil Science & Conservation; Solid phases; Stations; Streams; Surface water; Total dissolved solids; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Water temperature; Watersheds; Xenoestrogens
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-020-04477-2

The present study evaluated the relationship between estrogenic hormone concentrations (17α-ethinylestradiol and 17β-estradiol) in surface waters in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (Brazil) and environmental variables. Four sampling stations were monitored ranging from a protected area to streams discharging human effluent in and around Billings Reservoir. Four sampling campaigns were carried out in each seasonal period: dry and wet. Samples for hormone analysis (in ng L −1 ) were concentrated (1000×) using solid-phase extraction C 18 cartridges and analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole mass spectrometry detection, with 100 ng L −1 limit of quantification. Water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids were determined in situ ; total phosphorus and Sinapis alba bioassays were performed subsequently. Reservoir active capacity (AC) and precipitation were also obtained. Estrogenic hormone concentrations were always below limit of quantification at pristine site; at the other sampling stations, 17β-estradiol concentrations varied from below limit of quantification to 1720 ng L −1 and 17α-ethinylestradiol from below limit of quantification to 1200 ng L −1 , with the highest concentrations found in the streams discharging into the reservoir. These streams showed higher Pearson’s correlation between 17α-ethinylestradiol, total phosphorus, and electrical conductivity when compared with reservoir stations. Germination index and EC presented negative correlation (Pearson’s r  = − 0.61), denoting a phytotoxicity increase with EC increment. AC influenced the dilution of pollutants and showed negative correlations with total phosphorus (Pearson’s r  = −0.56). These results highlight the relevance of including streams in water-monitoring programs, since they are important pollutants loads into watersheds.