Occurrence of estrogens and their removal by biological processes of sewage treatment

  • Danieli Lima da Cunha Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Departamento de Saneamento e Saúde Ambiental Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, RJ, Brasil. Departamento de Geologia
  • Lícia Murito de Paula Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Departamento de Saneamento e Saúde Ambiental
  • Samuel Muylaert Camargo da Silva Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gestão e Regulação de Recursos Hídricos
  • Daniele Maia Bila Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e do Meio Ambiente
  • Estefan Monteiro da Fonseca Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, RJ, Brasil. Departamento de Geologia
  • Jaime Lopes da Mota Oliveira Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Departamento de Saneamento e Saúde Ambiental
Keywords: biological treatment, estrogens in the sewage, removal.

Abstract

Estrogens are micropollutants that may harm aquatic organisms endocrine system. They enter water bodies mainly through domestic sewage. This paper aims to review the estrone, estradiol, estriol and ethinyl estradiol occurrence in untreated and treated sewage and surface water, as well as their removal efficiency through employment of different sewage biological treatment methods. The few studies carried out in Brazil show a significant concentration of these compounds in the reviewed sources, with a downward trend from raw to treated sewage. Aerobic systems, such as activated sludge, showed better results at removing the estrogens, mainly through adsorption by sludge. However, little is known about the degradation mechanisms of such compounds and the behavior of their conjugates. Therefore, biological processes of sewage treatment represent a barrier to the introduction of estrogens to the water bodies.


Published
22/02/2017
Section
Papers