Evaluation of estrogenic disrupting potency in aquatic environments and urban wastewaters by combining chemical and biological analysis

Abstract We studied estrogenic disrupting potency in rivers and wastewaters in the Orge catchment area near Paris, using analytical and biological approaches simultaneously. The MELN test was applied to surface-water samples, urban storm run-off and wastewater-treatment plant (WWTP) effluent in parallel with analytical determinations of natural estrogens and synthetic estrogen (ethinylestradiol) using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. We quantified estrone in all samples in the range 0.1–15.7 ng/L. We also quantified β-estradiol in all samples, but at a lower level (0.1–2.3 ng/L), but we never detected α-estradiol. We quantified ethinylestradiol only in WWTP effluent (0.2 ng/L); we measured estriol in WWTP effluent (12.1 ng/L) and downstream effluent (4.9 ng/L). The biological responses using the MELN test closely followed the chemical responses. Analytical quantification of estrogens appears to be a simple way to trace estrogenic disruption in surface waters of urban areas, as these hormones are mainly responsible for biological effects.