UV/H sub(2)O sub(2) degradation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in water evaluated via toxicity assays

• Published in: Water science and technology 2007-01, Vol.55 (12), p.313-319
• Main Authors: Linden, K G, Rosenfeldt, E J, Kullman, S W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0273-1223
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2007.423

Due to rising concern regarding the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in surface water and groundwater throughout the United States, Asia and Europe, treatment of these chemicals in drinking water and wastewater to protect human health and the environment is an area of great interest. Many conventional treatment schemes are relatively ineffective in removing EDCs from water and wastewater. This is concerning because these chemicals are biologically active at very low concentrations and effects of mixtures are relatively unknown. 17- alpha -oestradiol (E2) and 17- beta -ethinyl-oestradiol (EE2), suspected EDCs, were degraded significantly by the UV/H sub(2)O sub(2) AOP. The UV/H sub(2)O sub(2) processes using either low or medium pressure lamps were degraded EDCs by between 80 and 99.3% at a 15 ppm H sub(2)O sub(2) concentration and a UV dose of 1,000 ml/cm super(2). Significantly greater removal was noted when the removal was based on total oestrogenic activity using a yeast oestrogen screen (YES) assay. These data indicated that a dose of less than 200 mJ/cm super(2) completely removed oestrogenic activity in lab water. Values for natural waters were slightly higher. A steady state model was developed to determine EDC destruction efficiency in waters of differing quality. The model effectively predicted destruction in water, where concentrations of all scavenging species were known. Based on these results it was concluded than complete destruction of oestrogenic activity was possible under practical advanced oxidation conditions for a variety of water qualities.