In two separate studies, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists demonstrated that hormones such as estrogen can biodegrade in stream and groundwater environments. This is an important finding because the science, regulatory, and environmental communities have concerns about the environmental fate of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as hormones, in the human wastewaters discharged to the environment from wastewater treatment plants and domestic septic systems. The natural female sex hormone17ß-estradiol (estrogen) is made in the human body, and is an important chemical messenger related to female sexual development and reproduction. When concentrated in the environment by the disposal of treated wastewaters there is concern that elevated levels of 17ß-estradiol and other estrogenic chemicals can cause feminization of fish and wildlife exposed to the chemicals. Even though hormones are generally present in the environment near wastewater releases to streams and groundwater, they tend to absorb to sediment and/or degrade during transport.
Hormones in Streams and Rivers
USGS scientists published the results of a study in Environmental Science and Technology that demonstrated there is a significant potential for the biodegradation of three hormones, estrone, 17ß-estradiol, and testosterone, in the bottom sediments of streams that received wastewater from sewage treatment plants (Bradley and others, 2009). Laboratory experiments showed that all three compounds were efficiently degraded in surface water sediments under conditions where oxygen is present.
Hormones in Groundwater
USGS scientists documented in Environmental Science and Technology that 17ß-estradiol biodegrades in the groundwater of a sandy aquifer on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, contaminated with wastewater from a sewage treatment plant (Barber and others, 2009). The scientists tested the ability of 17ß-estradiol to be transported in groundwater by injecting a solution of non-degrading tracer (bromide) and 17ß-estradiol into the subsurface. The resulting subsurface plume or cloud of tracer was allowed to move naturally with the groundwater. As the plume drifted it was monitored via multilevel samplers (see diagram). The results showed that the subsurface movement of 17ß-estradiol was retarded (reduced) when compared to bromide. Laboratory degradation experiments confirmed that the 17B-estradiol was being degraded by naturally occurring bacteria.
Implications
The results of these two studies indicate that biodegradation may give surface water and groundwater environments a natural capacity to reduce the levels of hormones in impacted streams and groundwater and reduce the potential impacts on fish and wildlife.
What About Other Wastewater Contaminants in Groundwater?
In addition to 17ß-estradiol, the scientists also discovered that an antibiotic (sulfamethoxazole) is resistant to biodegradation in subsurface environments and a common detergent degradation product (4-nonylphenol) is biodegradable but to a lesser extent than 17ß-estradiol. In a subsurface tracer test the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole was transported at almost the same rate as bromide (the conservative non-absorbing tracer). In addition, the researchers found sulfamethoxazole throughout most of an existing subsurface wastewater plume at the Cape Cod Toxic Substances Hydrology Program Research Site, Massachusetts. The occurrence of sulfamethoxazole in the contamination plume that is kilometers long and decades old is further evidence that sulfamethoxazole is resistant to natural attenuation in subsurface environments. Previous studies on Cape Cod have shown that free-living bacteria and organic-wastewater contaminants occur in the same wells where sulfamethoxazole was detected. This result indicates that subsurface bacteria have been exposed to antimicrobial compounds for decades. The scientists also conjecture that sulfamethoxazole may be a useful tracer or indicator of subsurface contamination by wastewater from sewage treatment plants.
Related science listed below.
Recovery of Stream and Adjacent Groundwater After Wastewater Treatment Facility Closure
Synthetic Progestin Affects Fish Reproductive Development and Behavior in Laboratory Exposure Study
Long-Term Study Finds Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Urban Waterways
Personal Care Products, Pharmaceuticals, and Hormones Move from Septic Systems to Local Groundwater
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Persist Downstream from the Source
Chemicals Found in Treated Wastewater are Transported from Streams to Groundwater
Neuroactive Pharmaceuticals in Minnesota Rivers
Toxins Produced by Molds Measured in U.S. Streams
Biosolids, Animal Manure, and Earthworms: Is There a Connection?
Biological Activity of Steroid Hormones in U.S. Streams
Chemical Combo and Intersex Fish Found at Smallmouth Bass Nesting Sites
Improvements in Wastewater Treatment Reduces Endocrine Disruption in Fish
- Overview
In two separate studies, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists demonstrated that hormones such as estrogen can biodegrade in stream and groundwater environments. This is an important finding because the science, regulatory, and environmental communities have concerns about the environmental fate of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as hormones, in the human wastewaters discharged to the environment from wastewater treatment plants and domestic septic systems. The natural female sex hormone17ß-estradiol (estrogen) is made in the human body, and is an important chemical messenger related to female sexual development and reproduction. When concentrated in the environment by the disposal of treated wastewaters there is concern that elevated levels of 17ß-estradiol and other estrogenic chemicals can cause feminization of fish and wildlife exposed to the chemicals. Even though hormones are generally present in the environment near wastewater releases to streams and groundwater, they tend to absorb to sediment and/or degrade during transport.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.USGS scientist determining if enough dissolved oxygen is present for biodegradation of hormones in Fourmile Creek, Iowa. Hormones in Streams and Rivers
USGS scientists published the results of a study in Environmental Science and Technology that demonstrated there is a significant potential for the biodegradation of three hormones, estrone, 17ß-estradiol, and testosterone, in the bottom sediments of streams that received wastewater from sewage treatment plants (Bradley and others, 2009). Laboratory experiments showed that all three compounds were efficiently degraded in surface water sediments under conditions where oxygen is present.
Hormones in Groundwater
USGS scientists documented in Environmental Science and Technology that 17ß-estradiol biodegrades in the groundwater of a sandy aquifer on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, contaminated with wastewater from a sewage treatment plant (Barber and others, 2009). The scientists tested the ability of 17ß-estradiol to be transported in groundwater by injecting a solution of non-degrading tracer (bromide) and 17ß-estradiol into the subsurface. The resulting subsurface plume or cloud of tracer was allowed to move naturally with the groundwater. As the plume drifted it was monitored via multilevel samplers (see diagram). The results showed that the subsurface movement of 17ß-estradiol was retarded (reduced) when compared to bromide. Laboratory degradation experiments confirmed that the 17B-estradiol was being degraded by naturally occurring bacteria.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A conceptual diagram of the setup of the subsurface tracer test. A solution of bromide (conservative tracer), 17ß-estradiol (natural female sex hormone), 4-nonylphenol (detergent degradation product), and sulfamethoxazole (an antibiotic commonly used for treating bacterial infections in humans and animals) was injected into the subsurface. A series of corresponding water samples were collected from the multilevel sampler downgradient of the injection well. Implications
The results of these two studies indicate that biodegradation may give surface water and groundwater environments a natural capacity to reduce the levels of hormones in impacted streams and groundwater and reduce the potential impacts on fish and wildlife.
What About Other Wastewater Contaminants in Groundwater?
In addition to 17ß-estradiol, the scientists also discovered that an antibiotic (sulfamethoxazole) is resistant to biodegradation in subsurface environments and a common detergent degradation product (4-nonylphenol) is biodegradable but to a lesser extent than 17ß-estradiol. In a subsurface tracer test the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole was transported at almost the same rate as bromide (the conservative non-absorbing tracer). In addition, the researchers found sulfamethoxazole throughout most of an existing subsurface wastewater plume at the Cape Cod Toxic Substances Hydrology Program Research Site, Massachusetts. The occurrence of sulfamethoxazole in the contamination plume that is kilometers long and decades old is further evidence that sulfamethoxazole is resistant to natural attenuation in subsurface environments. Previous studies on Cape Cod have shown that free-living bacteria and organic-wastewater contaminants occur in the same wells where sulfamethoxazole was detected. This result indicates that subsurface bacteria have been exposed to antimicrobial compounds for decades. The scientists also conjecture that sulfamethoxazole may be a useful tracer or indicator of subsurface contamination by wastewater from sewage treatment plants.
- Science
Related science listed below.
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The hydrology and chemistry of a wastewater-impacted stream and adjacent groundwater responded rapidly (had fewer chemicals at lower concentrations) following wastewater treatment facility shutdown. However, the adjacent shallow groundwater remained a continuing source of some wastewater-derived contaminants to the stream at least 1 year post-shutdown.Synthetic Progestin Affects Fish Reproductive Development and Behavior in Laboratory Exposure Study
Scientists conducted laboratory experiments on levonorgestrel (a synthetic progestin) and observed differential effects to males (reproductive behavior) and females (masculinization) of eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki).Long-Term Study Finds Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Urban Waterways
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists determined that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were present in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, water, and fish tissue in urban waterways in the Great Lakes and upper Mississippi River Regions (Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio) during 1999 through 2009.Personal Care Products, Pharmaceuticals, and Hormones Move from Septic Systems to Local Groundwater
Pharmaceuticals, hormones, personal care products, and other contaminants of concern associated with everyday household activities were found in adjacent shallow groundwater near two septic system networks in New York (NY) and New England (NE). Factors influencing movement to shallow groundwater and the types of chemicals found include population served by a septic system, site conditions such as...Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Persist Downstream from the Source
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were transported 2 kilometers downstream of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) outfall in a coastal plain stream. EDCs persisted downstream of the outfall with little change in the numbers of EDCs and limited decreases in EDC concentrations.Chemicals Found in Treated Wastewater are Transported from Streams to Groundwater
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists studying a midwestern stream conclude that pharmaceuticals and other contaminants in treated wastewater effluent discharged to the stream are transported into adjacent shallow groundwater. Other mobile chemicals found in wastewater are expected to have similar fates.Neuroactive Pharmaceuticals in Minnesota Rivers
A team of scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the University of Colorado measured seven neuroactive pharmaceutical compounds in treated wastewater and downstream receiving waters at 24 sites across Minnesota. The analysis of samples collected upstream and downstream of wastewater treatment plants indicated that wastewater treatment plants were the major source of these chemicals.Toxins Produced by Molds Measured in U.S. Streams
A team of scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Agroscope Reckenholz-Tanikon Research Station, Switzerland, found that some mycotoxins are common in U. S. stream waters. Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by molds (fungi) that can cause disease and even death in humans and animals. Mycotoxins can grow on a wide variety of crops.Biosolids, Animal Manure, and Earthworms: Is There a Connection?
Animal manure and biosolids, the solid byproduct of wastewater treatment, often are applied to agricultural crops to provide nutrients for plant growth and to improve the quality of soil. Earthworms studied in agricultural fields where manure and biosolids were applied have been found to contain organic chemicals from household products and manure. Earthworms continuously ingest soils and may...Biological Activity of Steroid Hormones in U.S. Streams
Testing of U.S. streams has detected glucocorticoid and androgen biological activity. In a collaborative study between the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and others, scientists studied the potential for the biological activity in streams of glucocorticoids and androgens hormones—both potential endocrine...Chemical Combo and Intersex Fish Found at Smallmouth Bass Nesting Sites
Chemical contaminants including herbicides, veterinary pharmaceuticals, and biogenic hormones have been detected at fish nesting sites in the Potomac River watershed where endocrine disruption in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) was also observed. Although these contaminants are known to originate from a variety of human and animal-waste sources, results of a recent U.S. Geological Survey...Improvements in Wastewater Treatment Reduces Endocrine Disruption in Fish
A team of scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the University of Colorado, and the City of Boulder, Colorado, demonstrated that improvements to the treatment process at a wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) reduced the level of endocrine disruption in fish exposed to wastewater effluent discharged from the facility. It is difficult to anticipate the effects that upgrading WWTF... - Publications