Endokrine Disruptoren eine komplexe Herausforderung

Eine breite Palette an Chemikalien kann direkt oder indirekt das Hormonsystem negativ beeinflussen bzw. stören. Diese Stoffe werden endokrine Disruptoren genannt. Internationale Organisationen und auch die EU-Kommission hat bereits im Jahr 1999 eine Strategie für Endokrin Disruptive Chemikalien (EDC oder Endocrine Disruptive Compounds EDC) (EU 2017) verabschiedet und in einigen geltenden EU-Rechtsvorschriften Vorgangsweisen für EDC definiert. Trotzdem ist die Definition für EDC damals offen geblieben und es wurden formale Kriterien auf EU-Ebene erst 2016 festgelegt, um EDC zu identifizieren. Ziel dieses Artikels ist es die komplexen Zusammenhänge in Hinblick auf EDC und die Probleme bei der Methodenauswahl und Standardsetzung aufzuzeigen. EDC können die Fortpflanzungsfunktion und fötale Entwicklung, aber auch das Nervensystem und Verhalten, das Immunsystem und die metabolischen Systeme, Genexpression, Leber, Knochen und viele andere Organe, Drüsen und Gewebe, den Stoffwechsel, die Fettablagerung, die Knochenentwicklung und das Immunsystem beeinflussen. Derartige Wirkungen, wie Auswirkungen auf die Reproduktion, Inzidenz verschiedener Krebsarten, Typ 2 Diabetes, Fettleibigkeit und Herzerkrankungen; Verhaltensauffälligkeit und Schilddrüsen- und Immunsystem-Dysfunktionen sind nicht nur beim Menschen, sondern auch bei Wildtieren zu beobachten. Die OECD hat eine Vorgangsweise (Conceptual Framework CF (OECD 2012)) zur Bewertung von EDC auf 5 verschiedenen Ebenen vorgelegt, die sich aber im Wesentlichen auf Östrogen/Androgen/Schilddrüse/Steroidogenese beschränken und bestimmte Wirkungen auf das Kortikosteroidsystem von Wildtierarten oder epigenetische Effekte noch nicht berücksichtigen. Die Listen der als EDC erkannten Stoffe sind sehr unterschiedlich und es gibt noch keine international konsolidierte Liste. Das Vorkommen von EDC bei der Trinkwasser- und Abwasserbehandlung kann in vielen Fällen wegen der notwendigen tiefen Bestimmungsgrenze nicht mit ausreichender Sicherheit chemisch analytisch ermittelt werden, jedoch stehen sensitive bioanalytische Methoden zur Wirkungserfassung zur Verfügung. Eine Studie zeigt aber, dass der Einfluss von EDC auf Mensch und Umwelt potentiell mit enormen Kosten verbunden ist.There is a wide range of chemicals which can directly or indirectly affect or interfere with the hormone system the so called endocrine disruptors. In 1999 international organizations and the European Commission have already adopted a strategy for endocrine disruptive compounds (EDCs) (EU 2017) and have defined procedures how to handle EDCs in some EU legislation. Nevertheless, the EDC definition was left open, and formal criteria for EDCs at EU level were not set until 2016. The aim of this article is to highlight the complex situation with regard to EDCs and the problems of method selection and standard setting. EDCs can affect not only the reproductive functions and fetal development, but also the nervous system and behavior, immune system and metabolic systems, gene expression, liver, bone and many other organs, glands and tissues, metabolism, fat deposition, bone development and immune system. Therefore, EDCs have been suspected to be associated with altered reproductive function in males and females, increased incidence of breast cancer, abnormal growth patterns and neurodevelopmental delays in children, as well as changes in immune function (WHO and UNEP 2013). Such effects can be observed not only in humans, but also in wildlife. The OECD has presented a conceptual framework (OECD 2012) for the evaluation of EDCs at 5 different levels, but these are mainly limited to estrogen/androgen/thyroid/steroidogenesis; certain effects on the corticosteroid system of wild animals or epigenetic effects are not yet taken into account. The lists of substances recognized as EDCs are very different depending on the organization and there is no internationally consolidated list. The presence of EDCs in drinking water and treated waste water cannot be determined with sufficient certainty by chemical analysis in many cases, because of the required low limit of detection and quantification; but sensitive bioanalytical methods are available for the detection of these effects. However, a study shows that the impact of EDCs on humans and the environment is potentially associated with tremendous costs.(VLID)221159

Biodegradation of Bisphenol A, Bisphenol F and Bisphenol S in Seawater

A group of compounds structurally similar to bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol A, BPA) are called bisphenols (BPs), and some of them can partially replace BPA in industrial applications. The production and consumption of BPs other than BPA, especially those of bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane (bisphenol F, BPF) and bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone (bisphenol S, BPS), have increased recently, leading to their detection as contaminants in the aquatic environment. The three compounds tested 100% positive for estrus response in 1936 and concerns about their health risks have been increasing. Abundant data on degradation of bisphenols (BPs) has been published, but results for biodegradation of BPs in seawater are lacking. However, several research groups have focused on this topic recently. In this study, the biodegradation behaviors of three BPs, namely BPA, BPF and BPS, in seawater were investigated using TOC Handai (TOC, potential test) and river (sea) die-away (SDA, simulation test) methods, which are both a kind of river-die-away test. The main difference between the tests is that indigenous microcosms remain in the sampled raw seawater for the SDA experiments, but they are removed through filtration and dispersed into artificial seawater for the TOC experiments. The BPs, except for BPS, were degraded using both methods. The SDA method produced better biodegradation results than the TOC method in terms of degradation time (both lag and degradation periods). Biodegradation efficiencies were measured at 75–100% using the SDA method and 13–63% using the TOC method. BPF showed better degradation efficiency than BPA, BPF was > 92% and BPA 83% depleted according to the SDA tests. BPS degradation was not observed. As a conclusion, the biodegradability of the three BPs in seawater could be ranked as BPF > BPA ≫ BPS. BPF is more biodegradable than BPA in seawater and BPS is more likely to accumulate in the aquatic environment. BPS poses a lower risk to human health and to the environment than BPA or BPF but it is not amenable to biodegradation and might be persistent and become an ecological burden. Thus other degradation methods need to be found for the removal of BPS in the environment

Silver nanoparticles with plasma-polymerized hexamethyldisiloxane coating on 3D printed substrates are non-cytotoxic and effective against respiratory pathogens

Due to the emerging resistance of microorganisms and viruses to conventional treatments, the importance of self-disinfecting materials is highly increasing. Such materials could be silver or its nanoparticles (AgNPs), both of which have been studied for their antimicrobial effect. In this study, we compared the biological effects of AgNP coatings with and without a plasma-polymerized hexamethyldisiloxane (ppHMDSO) protective film to smooth silver or copper coatings under three ambient conditions that mimic their potential medical use (dry or wet environments and an environment simulating the human body). The coatings were deposited on 3D printed polylactic acid substrates by DC magnetron sputtering, and their surface morphology was visualized using scanning electron microscopy. Cytotoxicity of the samples was evaluated using human lung epithelial cells A549. Furthermore, antibacterial activity was determined against the Gram-negative pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and antiviral activity was assessed using human rhinovirus species A/type 2. The obtained results showed that overcoating of AgNPs with ppHMDSO creates the material with antibacterial and antiviral activity and at the same time without a cytotoxic effect for the surrounding tissue cells. These findings suggest that the production of 3D printed substrates coated with a layer of AgNPs-ppHMDSO could have potential applications in the medical field as functional materials

Influence of operating parameters on the biodegradation of steroid estrogens and nonylphenolic compounds during biological wastewater treatment processes

This document is the unedited author's version of a Submitted Work that was subsequently accepted for publication in Environmental Science & Technology, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review. To access the final edited and published work see http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es901612v.This study investigated operational factors influencing the removal of steroid estrogens and nonylphenolic compounds in two sewage treatment works, one a nitrifying/denitrifying activated sludge plant and the other a nitrifying/denitrifying activated sludge plant with phosphorus removal. Removal efficiencies of >90% for steroid estrogens and for longer chain nonylphenol ethoxylates (NP4−12EO) were observed at both works, which had equal sludge ages of 13 days. However, the biological activity in terms of milligrams of estrogen removed per day per tonne of biomass was found to be 50−60% more efficient in the nitrifying/denitrifying activated sludge works compared to the works which additionally incorporated phosphorus removal. A temperature reduction of 6 °C had no impact on the removal of free estrogens, but removal of the conjugated estrone-3-sulfate was reduced by 20%. The apparent biomass sorption (LogKp) values were greater in the nitrifying/denitrifying works than those in the nitrifying/denitrifying works with phosphorus removal for both steroid estrogens and nonylphenolic compounds possibly indicating a different cell surface structure and therefore microbial population. The difference in biological activity (mg tonne−1 d−1) identified in this study, of up to seven times, suggests that there is the potential for enhancing the removal of estrogens and nonylphenols if more detailed knowledge of the factors responsible for these differences can be identified and maximized, thus potentially improving the quality of receiving waters.Public Utilities Board (Singapore), Anglian Water Ltd, Severn Trent Water Ltd, Thames Water Utilities Ltd, United Utilities 393 Plc and Yorkshire Water Services

Mixtures of Chemical Pollutants at European Legislation Safety Concentrations: How Safe Are They?

The risk posed by complex chemical mixtures in the environment to wildlife and humans is increasingly debated, but has been rarely tested under environmentally relevant scenarios. To address this issue, two mixtures of 14 or 19 substances of concern (pesticides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, a surfactant, and a plasticizer), each present at its safety limit concentration imposed by the European legislation, were prepared and tested for their toxic effects. The effects of the mixtures were assessed in 35 bioassays, based on 11 organisms representing different trophic levels. A consortium of 16 laboratories was involved in performing the bioassays. The mixtures elicited quantifiable toxic effects on some of the test systems employed, including i) changes in marine microbial composition, ii) microalgae toxicity, iii) immobilization in the crustacean Daphnia magna, iv) fish embryo toxicity, v) impaired frog embryo development, and vi) increased expression on oxidative stress-linked reporter genes. Estrogenic activity close to regulatory safety limit concentrations was uncovered by receptor-binding assays. The results highlight the need of precautionary actions on the assessment of chemical mixtures even in cases where individual toxicants are present at seemingly harmless concentration

Mixtures of chemical pollutants at European legislation safety concentrations: how safe are they?

The risk posed by complex chemical mixtures in the environment to wildlife and humans is increasingly debated, but has been rarely tested under environmentally relevant scenarios. To address this issue, two mixtures of 14 or 19 substances of concern (pesticides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, a surfactant, and a plasticizer), each present at its safety limit concentration imposed by the European legislation, were prepared and tested for their toxic effects. The effects of the mixtures were assessed in 35 bioassays, based on 11 organisms representing different trophic levels. A consortium of 16 laboratories was involved in performing the bioassays. The mixtures elicited quantifiable toxic effects on some of the test systems employed, including i) changes in marine microbial composition, ii) microalgae toxicity, iii) immobilization in the crustacean Daphnia magna, iv) fish embryo toxicity, v) impaired frog embryo development, and vi) increased expression on oxidative stress-linked reporter genes. Estrogenic activity close to regulatory safety limit concentrations was uncovered by receptor-binding assays. The results highlight the need of precautionary actions on the assessment of chemical mixtures even in cases where individual toxicants are present at seemingly harmless concentrations

Filtermaterialprüfung: Anwendung der ÖNORM B 2506 Teil 3 für das hochrangige Straßennetz

Verkehrsflächenabflüsse können mit organischen und anorganischen Stoffen belastet sein und als verunreinigt gelten, sodass sie vor Einbringung in den Untergrund gereinigt werden müssen. Die Belastungen stammen bzw. entstehen aus Abgasnebenprodukten, Reifen, Karosserie- und Fahrbahnverschleiß, Abflüssen aus Niederschlägen, nasser und trockener Deposition und Fahrbahninstandhaltungsarbeiten. Im ÖWAV-Regelblatt 45 und in der ÖNORM B 2506, Teil 1 und 2 wird der Stand der Technik der Reinigung vor Versickerung in den Untergrund mit Bodenfiltern bzw. „technischen Bodenfiltern“ (ÖNORM) und „technischen Filtern“ (ÖWAV-RB 45) beschrieben. Die Kriterien der Mindestleistungsfähigkeit und deren Prüfung wurden in der ÖNORM B 2506, Teil 3 festgelegt. Da sowohl in der ÖNORM B 2506, Teil 1 und 2 als auch im ÖWAV-RB 45 die hochrangigen Straßen ausgenommen wurden, sollen in diesem Artikel die Grundlagen der ÖNORM B 2506, Teil 3 erläutert und ihre Anwendbarkeit auch auf hochrangige Straßen aufgezeigt werden. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass aufgrund der in der ÖNORM B 2506-3 gewählten strengen Prüfbedingungen und Prüfkriterien die Prüfung der technischen Filtermaterialien aus wissenschaftlicher Sicht geeignet sind, auch die Anforderungen an die Reinigung von Straßenabwässern von hochbelasteten Straßen mit hohen durchschnittlichen täglichen Verkehrsbelastungen (JDTV), wie jenen des hochrangigen Straßennetzes, zu erfüllen. Es sei noch darauf hingewiesen, dass die Prüfung der technischen Filtermaterialien nach ÖNORM B 2506-3 für die Versickerung in das Grundwasser erstellt wurde.Street runoff can be contaminated with organic and inorganic substances, and therefore have to be treated before being infiltrated in the underground. The contaminations are from tires, vehicles, roads, precipitation, wet and dry deposition, road maintenance work or are generated by exhaust gas products. The state of the art of cleaning before infiltration into the underground is described in the ÖWAV-Regelblatt 45 and ÖNORM B 2506 Parts 1 & 2, with the help of soil filters or “technical soil filters” (ÖNORM) and “technical filters” (ÖWAV-RB 45). The testing methods and performance criteria for such filters have been defined in ÖNORM B 2506 Part 3. Since both the ÖNORM B 2506 Parts 1 & 2 and the ÖWAV-RB 45 have exempted the high-ranking roads, this article explains the background of ÖNORM B2506 Part 3 and its applicability for run-off treatment of high-ranking roads. It has been shown that due to the strict test conditions and test criteria chosen in ÖNORM B 2506-3, the testing of the technical filter materials is from a scientific point of view also suitable, to meet the requirements for roads with high annual average daily traffic (AADT). It should be pointed out that the testing methods according to ÖNORM B 2506-3 was designed for infiltration into the underground.(VLID)233458