Occurrence of 17α-ethinylestradiol in Paranoá Lake watershed (Brasília, Brazil): sewage, freshwater and treated water

  • Juliana Pinheiro Gomes Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, n°1480, CEP: 21041-210, Manguinhos, RJ, Brazil.
  • Giulia Oliveira Timo Departamento de Farmácia. Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde. Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, s/n, Asa Norte, CEP: 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
  • Lícia Murito de Paula Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, n°1480, CEP: 21041-210, Manguinhos, RJ, Brazil.
  • Thales Viana Labourdette Costa Departamento de Farmácia. Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde. Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, s/n, Asa Norte, CEP: 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
  • Paulo Roberto de Souza Rocha Júnior Departamento de Farmácia. Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde. Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, s/n, Asa Norte, CEP: 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
  • Mauricio Homem de Mello Departamento de Farmácia. Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde. Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, s/n, Asa Norte, CEP: 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
  • Jaime Lopes da Mota Oliveira Departamento de Saneamento e Saúde Ambiental. Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sérgio Arouca. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, n°1480, CEP: 21041-210, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Keywords: endocrine disruptor, Paranoá Lake, 17α-ethinylestradiol

Abstract

Emerging contaminants such as 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) can be discharged from sewage systems and contaminate water supplies. Paranoá Lake is a strategic water reservoir in Brasília (Brazil) that receives treated sewage from sewage treatment plants (STPs) and has recently become a water supply. This study monitored EE2 residues in different matrices from Paranoá Lake watershed using the ELISA method. This monitoring was performed together with the local environmental agency in two periods. EE2 was detected in all sewage samples showing that this residue is continually being discharged into the lake. However, EE2 was found in only one freshwater sample (0.07 ng L-1), which is below the predicted no-effect concentration considered as a risk for aquatic animals. EE2 was not detected in treated water. Nevertheless, the increased use of freshwater as a water supply signals the need for continuous EE2 monitoring in the lake.


Published
27/07/2021
Section
Papers