Derivation of an aquatic predicted no-effect concentration for the synthetic hormone, 17a-ethinyl estradiol
Caldwell, D.J.; Mastrocco, F.; Hutchinson, T.H.; Länge, R.; Heijerick, D.; Janssen, C.; Anderson, P.D.; Sumpter, J.P. (2008). Derivation of an aquatic predicted no-effect concentration for the synthetic hormone, 17a-ethinyl estradiol. Environ. Sci. Technol. 42(19): 7046-7054. dx.doi.org/10.1021/es800633q In: Environmental Science and Technology. American Chemical Society: Easton. ISSN 0013-936X; e-ISSN 1520-5851, more |  |
| Keywords | Aquaculture
Aquatic organisms
Characteristics > Mode of action
Concentration (composition)
Data integrity > Data quality
Estrogens
Forecasting
Lipids > Isoprenoids > Steroids > Oestranes > Oestrogens > Estradiol
Mammals (aquatic)
Pollution effects
Reproduction
Synthetic hormones > Synthetic oestrogens > Pregnanes > Ethinylestradiol
Waste treatment > Sewage treatment
Wastes > Effluents
Wastes > Sewage
Water > Surface water
Mammalia [WoRMS]; Vertebrata [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal; Fresh water |
| Authors | | Top | - Caldwell, D.J.
- Mastrocco, F.
- Hutchinson, T.H.
- Länge, R.
| - Heijerick, D., more
- Janssen, C., more
- Anderson, P.D.
- Sumpter, J.P.
| |
| Abstract | 17a-Ethinyl estradiol (EE2) is a synthetic estrogen widely used in combination with othersteroid hormones in oral contraceptives and in the contraceptive patch. EE2 has been detected in sewage treatment plant effluents in the low nanogram -per-liter range and occasionally in surface waters in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Brazil, Germany, and elsewhere. The mode of action is receptor-mediated, and estrogen receptors exist in mammals and other vertebrates. A large number of studies on the effects of EE2 on aquatic organisms exist. One hundred English language studies published between 1994 and 2007, one as yet unpublished study, and findings published in conference proceedings (in German) were compared to published data quality criteria to identify the most relevant studies for deriving a predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC). Reproduction in fish was identified as the most sensitive end point in aquatic species. A species sensitivity distribution was constructed using no observed effect concentrations (NOECs) for reproductive effects from 39 papers in 26 species, resulting in a median hazardous concentration at which 5% of the species tested are affected (HC5,50) of 0.35 ng/L. After comparing this HC5,50 to all of the laboratory and field-derived toxicity information available for EE2, we recommend using 0.35 ng/L as the PNEC for EE2 in surface water. This PNEC is below 95% of the existing NOECs for effects on reproduction and is also below virtually all of the NOECs for vitellogenin induction in the key fish reproduction studies. |
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