Occurrence, temporal variation, and estrogenic burden of five parabens in sewage sludge collected across the United States

Jing Chen; Benny F. G. Pycke; Bruce J. Brownawell; Chad A. Kinney; Edward T. Furlong; Dana W. Kolpin; Rolf U. Halden

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.162

Occurrence, temporal variation, and estrogenic burden of five parabens in sewage sludge collected across the United States

Science of the Total Environment

By: Jing Chen, Benny F. G. Pycke, Bruce J. Brownawell, Chad A. Kinney, Edward T. Furlong, Dana W. Kolpin, and Rolf U. Halden

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.162

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Abstract

Five parabens used as preservatives in pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) were measured in sewage sludges collected at 14 U.S. wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in nine states. Detected concentration ranges (ng/g, dry weight) and frequencies were as follows: methyl paraben (15.9 to 203.0; 100%), propyl paraben (0.5 to 7.7; 100%), ethyl paraben (< 0.6 to 2.6; 63%), butyl paraben (< 0.4 to 4.3; 42%) and benzyl paraben (< 0.4 to 3.3; 26%). The estrogenicity inherent to the sum of parabens detected in sewage sludge (ranging from 10.1 to 500.1 pg/kg 17β-estradiol equivalents) was insignificant when compared to the 10⁶-times higher value calculated for natural estrogens reported in the literature to occur in sewage sludge. Temporal monitoring at one WWTP provided insights into temporal and seasonal variations in paraben concentrations. This is the first report on the occurrence of five parabens in sewage sludges from across the U.S., and internationally, the first on temporal variations of paraben levels in sewage sludge. Study results will help to inform the risk assessment of sewage sludge destined for land application (biosolids).

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Occurrence, temporal variation, and estrogenic burden of five parabens in sewage sludge collected across the United States
Series title	Science of the Total Environment
DOI	10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.162
Volume	593-594
Year Published	2017
Language	English
Publisher	Elsevier
Contributing office(s)	Branch of Analytical Serv (NWQL)
Description	7 p.
First page	368
Last page	374
Country	United States
State	Arizona, Indiana, Florida, Maryland, Montana, New York, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page