Towards impact based monitoring of Estrogenic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (eedc).

Transcription

1 Towards impact based monitoring of Estrogenic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (eedc). eedc sources and behaviour in the Zenne river, Brussels Supervisors: Prof M. Elskens Prof S.J. Eisenreich Dr. N. Brion Dr. K. van Langehove Presented by Estée Swartz Date: 30/01/2017 1

2 Rationale Methodology Results and Discussion Conclusion Recommendation 2

3 What are eedcs? estrogenic-endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Natural or synthetic compounds either hormonal estrogens or chemicals which mimic or induce estrogen like response in an organism Physico-Chemical properties: Medium solubility in water Medium to high Kow Suggests to be persistent and attach to organic matter 3

4 Its just a little why does it matter? Sources? Pseudo-persistent Active at low concentration [ng/l] Cocktails of chemicals Chemical detection is costly and does not reflect estrogenic potential 4

5 Response of biological activity Determining Biological Equivalence (BEQ) Hill equation: (Elskens et al, 2011) EC 50 dose concentration producing half of maximum possible response [ng E2-Eq/L] BEQ is a quantitive response and is always calibrated wrt. a reference standard. 5

6 Research objectives Investigate eedcs, sources and transport along the Zenne River Determine BEQ of eedcs in Zenne River Construct Water budget of the study area Determine WWTP and riverine source fluxes and transport of BEQ in the Zenne River Construct eedc BEQ budget Investigate temporal and spatial relationships between BEQ and in-situ water quality parameters 6

7 Zenne River, Brussels WWTP-N Zenne River 103km long study 28km Urban river Q upstream = 4 m 3 /s Q downstream = 10 m 3 /s WWTP-S Discharge of Effluent from WWTP North (1.1 mil IE) WWTP South (0.36mil IE) CSO overflows 7

8 BEQ [ng E2-Eq/L] BEQ [ng E2-Eq/L] BEQ 20 Jan BEQ 13 Apr BEQ 27 Jul BEQ 22 Jun BEQ in Zenne River All measurements exceeded WFD Environmental Quality Standards for E2 = 0.04 [ng/l] and EE2 = [ng/l] 0 Z3 Z5 Z9 Z11 Sampling station 0 Z3 Z5 Z9 Z11 Sample station 8

9 Water Budget Upstream Lotbeek Box A Brussels Box B Canal 8 x CSO* Downstream Box C Woluwe Z3 Z5 Z9 Z11 Zuunbeek WWTP-S WWTP-N Tangebeek Checked water budget between measured outflow and sum of measured inflows for each box Discard data with error >25% 9

10 BEQ [g/day] BEQ Load Zenne River - upstream Date 20 Jan 27 Jul 24 Aug 20 Oct 23 Nov 14 Dec Z3 WWTP-S Zuunbeek Lotbeek Z5 out 10

11 BEQ [g/day] BEQ Load Zenne River Brussels Jul 28 Sept 20 Oct 23 Nov 14 Dec Date Z5 Total CSO WWTP-N Z9 out 11

12 BEQ [g/day] BEQ Load Zenne River - downstream Jan 27 Jul 24 Aug 20 Oct 23 Nov 14 Dec Date Z9 Woluwe Tangebeek Z11 out 12

13 PCA BEQ correlates with CON, TEMP and SPM 1.0 Correlation PLOT A ph SPM 4 Individual observations B 0.5 DO BEQ 2 Winter PC2 (28% 0.0 CON PC2 (28%) 0 Autumn Spring -0.5 TEM -2 Z3 Z5 Z9 Z11 Hospital Summer PC1 (47%) PC1 (47%) 13

14 Sources identified WWTP s removed 93-99% of eedcs in influent. Impact of hospitals in Brussels on Zenne river? Average BEQ per patient = 50E-06 [E2 eq g/day] Total for Brussels hospitals = 0.42 [E2 eq g/day] Treated hospital effluent Untreated hospital effluent 0.7% Up to 64% WWTP s are still the largest contributor of eedc s, assuming treatment of hospital effluent. 14

15 Conclusions BEQ measured along the Zenne River comparable to ranges measured in literature and were higher than EQS standards for EE2 and E2. Calculation of the BEQ load proved to be an efficient method for a first screening to develop a transport model along a river. Strong correlation between BEQ and COND There is an upstream (Z3) downstream (Z11) gradient of BEQ measurements. BEQ in the Zenne River follows a seasonal pattern WWTPs identified as a major eedc contributor to Zenne River. Wastewater treatment if crucial for eedc contaminated effluent. 15

16 Recommendation Future research? Improvement of water mass budget - additional flow meters and more upstream sampling point. Extend study further downstream. Risk to drinking water? Groundwater-surface water interaction? What percentage of the eedc s in influent attach to sludge during wastewater treatment. Analyse for WFD watchlist chemicals and its interactions, transformation processes and more detailed sources and sinks that are responsible for the BEQ in the Zenne. Further regression analysis to derive an equation to predict BEQ based on COND, TEM in space in time. Must be applied to an independent data set as well as an extrapolation site. Sampling campaigns during extreme weather events. 16

17 Acknowledgement This research was supported by the Brussels Innoviris admisnitration thourgn a Prospective Research for Brussels Grant and conducted through the Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry of the Vrije Universiteit Brussels. Futher reading: Thesis A little matters. eedc activity, sources and loads in the Zenne River, Brussels. (Swartz, E., 2016) IUPWARE Contact: estee.swartz@outlook.com Tel: