Estrogenic compounds in drinking water: A systematic review and risk analysis

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• Estrogenic compounds are endocrine disruptors mimicking 17β-estradiol, posing risks to reproductive health.
• Their presence in drinking water raises concerns about human exposure and health impacts.
• Assessing these risks requires understanding compound concentrations and their effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review global studies on estrogenic compounds in drinking water.
• To estimate human health and estrogenic activity risks based on reported concentrations.
• To identify key estrogenic compounds and their sources in drinking water.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of Web of Science, SCOPUS, and PubMed databases.
• Analysis of 45 selected papers from an initial 505.
• Identification and quantification of 16 estrogenic compounds in drinking water.

Main Results:

• Sixteen estrogenic compounds were identified, including hormones, pharmaceuticals, and plasticizers.
• Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was found at the highest concentration (1.43 mg/L).
• High non-carcinogenic risk was noted for 17α-ethynilestradiol and DEHP; medium for dibutyl phthalate; low for bisphenol A.

Conclusions:

• Drinking water contains various estrogenic compounds with varying health risks.
• DEHP presents a low estrogenic activity risk, while others are negligible.
• Improved drinking water treatment is crucial to remove micropollutants and mitigate risks.