Assessment of estrogenic pollutants in aquatic environments with snail (bio)tests: a systematic review

Compounds with estrogenic properties are regularly released into ecosystems through industrial and human activities. In some studies, in addition to determining concentrations, bioassay tests are performed to assess the bioavailability of these compounds. In this review, the sensitivity of snails to estrogenic compounds was investigated. Manuscripts were searched in databases using relevant keywords. Then, manuscripts were screened and finally data were extracted from the selected articles. Snails can be used to assess the estrogenic activity of different aquatic environments, including drinking water, river and lake water, rice fields, and waste liquids before and after treatment. Some assessments, such as the rate of increase in reproduction, are simple, so the deployment of this bioassay in sensitive environments such as urban and industrial treatment plants is recommended.