Occurrence of Phenolic Endocrine Disruptors in Danube Delta, Romania

Abstract

In the last decade, the use of chemical compounds with a molecular structure similar to that of BPA has been reported more and more as alternatives to BPA in various industrial products. This comes as a result of banning partial or total use of BPA because of its endocrine disrupting properties. However, bisphenol analogues have been shown to have similar or even greater negative properties than BPA. Thus, particular attention has been given to the risks they have for aquatic systems and human health. In this context, the present study aimed to determine the concentration level at which some of the bisphenol analogues (BPS, BPB, BPE, BPC and BPE), BPA and its major metabolite, 4-HAP, are found in surface waters. For this purpose, 11 sampling points were established in the geographical area of the Danube Delta. Among the seven targeted pollutants, only four were detected in the analyzed samples. 4-HAP metabolite was the most abundant compound in the analyzed samples, with concentrations ranging from 3.56 to 30.9 ng/L. BPA concentrations were, in most cases approximately three times lower than those determined for 4-HAP. The next bisphenol analog after 4-HAP, in the decreasing order of concentrations, was BPE, for which the concentration level ranged between LOQ and 12.4 ng/L. Lowest concentrations were detected for BPS, with a maximum level of 1.96 ng/L.