Hormonal imbalances, sexual changes and unusual behaviours are observed in wildlife. Some chemicals are implicated as endocrine disruptors (EDCs). Their dispersal into ecosphere allows them to reach biotopes isolated of emission sources and they accumulate in organisms and they cause alterations in biological functions (reprotoxicity, immunotoxicity, etc.). Beyond the individual, the community equilibrium is endangered with a potential impact on biodiversity. The organohalogen substances are historically concerned. Despite the prohibition of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs, they persist in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. But the “emerging substances” are also dangerous. Numerous examples of endocrine disruption in animal communities are described. The imposex in female of marine gastropods related to tributyltin (TBT) is one of the earliest known events. The feminization of fish in the estuary of the Seine, the hermaphroditism of some amphibians and the strange behaviour of birds, are famous facts. The cumulative effects are of concern to wild populations. These are mix of pollutants or the concomitancy of other global changes, the decline of polar bears or seals from the Baltic Sea proves it. In conclusion, endocrine disruption jeopardizes all natural biological systems and contributes in loss of biological diversity by reducing the number of sensitive species and making them vulnerable, considering the global extinction risk.

Wastewater is a major problem of diffuse pollution. The many endocrine disruptors (including xeno-oestrogens and drugs) that they contain are not treated (or imperfectly) by existing wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Some compounds are degraded, but many are not, or only partially; some of these are found downstream in water and sediments, which are still biologically active. Another part is adsorbed on suspended particles, which are often exported with sewage sludge in the fields. The type of treatment and the length of stay are important. Additional treatment of wastewater (ozone or activated charcoal), allows better removal of micropollutants, but often with additional costs. Natural lagooning lengthens the residence time in the treatment environment, and seems more effective; but a possible impact on the birds that frequent them remains to be measured, in order to verify that it is not an ecological trap situation.

Regards

Hi Bachir

Thanks for your consideration. I suppose your right, but I think recently some researchers find little information about estrogen-like compounds in human waste waters specially related to female urinary wastes that released into local rivers or coastal areas. Since this wastes contain various range of both estrogen and androgen substances can be a noticeable source to make complicated inconsistencies in our environment.

Have you any suggestion in this regard?

One of the major sources of estrogen is the human being who excretes it naturally through their urine. There are also synthetic estrogens used as contraceptives or during therapy. All these molecules are therefore found in urban wastewater. Estrogens are effectively removed by biodegradation during urban wastewater treatment. Although small in amount, estrogens adsorbed on sludge and their associated toxicity persist during methanization and composting. Discarded drugs concern all pharmaceutical molecules, such as antibiotics, analgesics, β-blockers ... as well as estrogen hormones such as estrone, estradiol, estriol and ethinyl estradiol. These have a potential risk to the environment and to humans. They pollute at low dose but chronically.

Regards

More recently, I interested in the field of endocrine disruptions in aquatic animals. Please attach articles or beneficial links for more study if you have.

Sincerely

Here are some links that may be useful.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322833658_Endocrine_Disruptors_in_Aquatic_Environment_Effects_and_Consequences_on_the_Biodiversity_of_Fish_and_Amphibian_Species

https://www.greenfacts.org/en/endocrine-disruptors/l-2/endocrine-disruptors-3.htm

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237719882_Effects_of_endocrine_disruptors_in_aquatic_mammals

https://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/fish_endocrine_disruption.html

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/5c1b/68cb8efd384b4d8d0d4e6fd64b8c2a6e2fe1.pdf

https://balticeye.org/globalassets/fokusomraden/farliga-amnen/edcs-in-the-marine-environment-report.pdf

Regards

Hi,

There was a recent SETAC Pellston workshop that deals with many of the issues. The series of papers coming from it might be of interest:-

https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.setac.org/resource/resmgr/Files/EHRA_Summary_Report.pdf

Article Ecotoxicological Hazard and Risk Assessment of Endocrine Act...

Best,

James