Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in Urban Rivers of the Southern Border of Mexico: Occurrence and Ecological Risk Assessment

Abstract

The occurrence of seven endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in four urban rivers of the southern border of Mexico was studied in this work. The selected EDCs were 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), 4-nonylphenol (4NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (4TOP). Water samples of Coatan, Texcuyuapan, Cahoacan, and Coatancito rivers were collected at three different sites on each river and processed by solid phase extraction (SPE). Samples were analyzed by gas chromatography triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and compounds of interest were identified by dynamic mass reaction monitoring mode (dMRM). Among the target EDCs, E2, BPA and 4NP were detected in all water samples, with BPA being the most abundant ranging from 4.22 up to 127.96 ng/L. Correlation tests showed significant positive associations between estrogens and BPA, as well as correlation between alkylphenols and BPA, suggesting common origin emission source, which were identified as discharges of untreated municipal wastewater. Finally, the estimation of RQ and EEQ values indicated that the presence of E2, E3, EE2 and BPA in all sampled points represents a high risk for aquatic life in these sites, mainly for Texcuyuapan River, where the aquatic organisms may be susceptible to endocrine disruption by chronic exposure to detected compounds.

Keywords: River pollution, micropollutants, emerging contaminants, Soconusco Chiapas, Xenoestrogens