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Estrogen concentration affects its biodegradation rate in activated sludge.

Nan Xu1, Andrew C Johnson, Monika D Jürgens

  • 1Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, United Kingdom.

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
|July 4, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Estrogen biodegradation in activated sludge is not affected by concentrations from ng/L to low μg/L. However, high concentrations (100 μg/L) significantly slow down the biodegradation rates of estrone (E1) and 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2).

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Steroid estrogens like estrone (E1) and 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) are emerging contaminants in wastewater.
  • Activated sludge is a key component in wastewater treatment for removing organic pollutants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of varying estrogen concentrations on their biodegradation rates in activated sludge.
  • To compare biodegradation in batch and continuous-flow reactor systems.

Main Methods:

  • Batch and continuous-flow reactor experiments were conducted using activated sludge.
  • Biodegradation rates and half-lives of E1 and EE2 were measured at different concentrations (0.03 to 100 μg/L).

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in biodegradation rates was observed for E1 and EE2 between 0.03 and 10 μg/L.
  • At 100 μg/L, biodegradation rates significantly decreased, with prolonged half-lives for both E1 and EE2.
  • Continuous-flow experiments showed reduced removal efficiency of E1 and EE2 at 100 μg/L compared to 0.1 μg/L.

Conclusions:

  • Estrogen concentrations in the ng/L to low μg/L range do not substantially impact activated sludge biodegradation.
  • High estrogen concentrations (around 100 μg/L) significantly inhibit biodegradation rates.
  • Studies using high μg/L estrogen concentrations may yield misleading results and should be avoided.