Detection and Quantification of Oestrogenic Endocrine Disruptors in Water in Mwanza Gulf in the Lake Victoria Basin, Tanzania

The aim of this study was to detect the presence and quantify the total oestrogens (estriol (E1), estradiol (E2), and estrone (E3)) in Lake Victoria water with a view of assessing their contribution to the health status of fish. A total of 27 water samples; three from each of the nine sampling sites were collected in Mwanza gulf in the city in May 2012. Solvent extraction procedures were used to obtain extracts of pollutants that were further analysed using the competitive Enzyme- Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique to detect and quantify the total oestrogens. Overall, the concentration of total oestrogens was low and ranged from 10 – 200 pg/L. Concentrations of these chemicals decreased along the gradient, being highest (107±81.4 pg/L) in rivers before entering into the lake and lowest (19±5.4 pg/L) in water samples collected in the lake at about 100 meters from inshore (intermediate sampling points). Levels of total oestrogens were significantly different between categories of water sources (P = 0.009). Two most polluted rivers were Butimba and Nyakurunduma with concentrations at 150 pg/L and 200 pg/L respectively. Dumping of wastes in rivers without treatment was the most likely source of the pollutants. Findings from this study have revealed the existence of oestrogens with endocrine disrupting properties at different concentrations, and that rivers are the main sources of oestrogenic endocrine disruptors in Lake Victoria water near Mwanza City.Keywords: ELISA, endocrine disruptors, oestrogens, pollutio

Optimized HPLC -UV method for separation, detection and quantification of endocrine disrupting estrogens in low quality water

International Journal of Chemistry; Vol. 9, No. 3Endocrine disrupting estrogens are emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems and environment in general. There are no guidelines for routine monitoring of these chemicals, despite the existing evidences of their adverse health effect to living organisms at low concentrations. This study aimed at developing and validating an optimized HPLC-UV method for detection and quantification of estradiol and ethinylestradiol. Isocratic elution was used for separation and detection of ethinylestradiol and estradiol. The mobile phase was applied with A; water B; acetonitrile (50:50) at flow rate of 0.7mL/min and injection volume 10mL. The precision and accuracy of the method were within the acceptable range. Relative standard deviation of peak area for E2 ranged from 1.373 to 3.668%, and for EE2 ranged from 0.829 to 6.495 %. The percentage recovery for E2 ranged from 82.3 to 99.84 %, and for EE2 ranged from 84.6 to 103.52 %. Linearity of the method was realized at range of 2.5 to 50 ng/mL and 100 to 1000 ng/mL for both E2 and EE2. The linear regression coefficients were 0.9979 and 0.9973 for E2 whereas for EE2 were 0.9983 and 0.9976. Limit of detection were found to be 0.05 ng/mL and 0.08 ng/mL for E2 and EE2 respectively. The obtained limits of quantification were 0.18 and 0.28 ng/mL for E2 and EE2 respectively. In untreated sewage the concentrations of E2 and EE2 were 0.28 ng/ml and 0.18 ng/ml respectively. But in subsequent wastewater stabilization ponds the concentrations were below detection limit. Therefore, the optimized HPLC-UV method is suitable for detection and quantification of endocrine disrupting estrogens when a level of pollution is at least 0.15 ng/ml. At low extent of pollution would require use of the method in conjunction with ELISA technique

Pollution by endocrine disrupting estrogens in aquatic ecosystems in Morogoro urban and peri-urban areas in Tanzania

Academic Journal Vol. 11(2), pp. 122-131This study aimed to assess the extent of pollution of aquatic ecosystems by endocrine disrupting estrogens particularly the ethinylestradiol (EE2), estrone (E2) and estradiol (E1). The study was carried out in Morogoro urban and peri-urban areas. The main sources of fresh water for domestic uses, fishing and agricultural activities in the study areas including the Mindu dam catchment area, Ngerengere and Morogoro Rivers were assessed. The endocrine disrupting estrogens in water samples were identified and quantified using competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. The recovery of estrogens in this study ranged from 65 to 90.22%, the range which is within the acceptable level. The levels of estrogens in Ngerengere River ranged from non-detectable levels to 0.68, 0.03 to 8.42 and 0.05 to 16.97 ng/L for EE2, E2 and E1, respectively. At Mindu Dam the levels ranged from 0.07 to 0.3 ng/L, 0.41 to 2.1 ng/L and 2.6 to 6.5 ng/L for EE2, E2 and E1 respectively. Furthermore, for Morogoro River the levels ranged from undetected to 0.92, 0.34 to 9.53 and 0.17 to 11.49 ng/L for EE2, E2 and E1 respectively. Mean concentrations in control samples and those in upstream and midstream of the rivers were comparable (p > 0.05). But the mean concentrations in downstream portions were significantly higher than those in control samples (p < 0.05). These concentrations however, were below those reported in other studies to cause harmful health effects. Hence, the extent of pollution was not significant enough to cause adverse health effects to aquatic organisms and human

Pollution by endocrine disrupting estrogens in aquatic ecosystems in Morogoro urban and peri-urban areas in Tanzania

Academic Journal Vol. 11(2), pp. 122-131This study aimed to assess the extent of pollution of aquatic ecosystems by endocrine disrupting estrogens particularly the ethinylestradiol (EE2), estrone (E2) and estradiol (E1). The study was carried out in Morogoro urban and peri-urban areas. The main sources of fresh water for domestic uses, fishing and agricultural activities in the study areas including the Mindu dam catchment area, Ngerengere and Morogoro Rivers were assessed. The endocrine disrupting estrogens in water samples were identified and quantified using competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. The recovery of estrogens in this study ranged from 65 to 90.22%, the range which is within the acceptable level. The levels of estrogens in Ngerengere River ranged from non-detectable levels to 0.68, 0.03 to 8.42 and 0.05 to 16.97 ng/L for EE2, E2 and E1, respectively. At Mindu Dam the levels ranged from 0.07 to 0.3 ng/L, 0.41 to 2.1 ng/L and 2.6 to 6.5 ng/L for EE2, E2 and E1 respectively. Furthermore, for Morogoro River the levels ranged from undetected to 0.92, 0.34 to 9.53 and 0.17 to 11.49 ng/L for EE2, E2 and E1 respectively. Mean concentrations in control samples and those in upstream and midstream of the rivers were comparable (p > 0.05). But the mean concentrations in downstream portions were significantly higher than those in control samples (p < 0.05). These concentrations however, were below those reported in other studies to cause harmful health effects. Hence, the extent of pollution was not significant enough to cause adverse health effects to aquatic organisms and human

Optimized HPLC -UV method for separation, detection and quantification of endocrine disrupting estrogens in low quality water

International Journal of Chemistry; Vol. 9, No. 3Endocrine disrupting estrogens are emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems and environment in general. There are no guidelines for routine monitoring of these chemicals, despite the existing evidences of their adverse health effect to living organisms at low concentrations. This study aimed at developing and validating an optimized HPLC-UV method for detection and quantification of estradiol and ethinylestradiol. Isocratic elution was used for separation and detection of ethinylestradiol and estradiol. The mobile phase was applied with A; water B; acetonitrile (50:50) at flow rate of 0.7mL/min and injection volume 10mL. The precision and accuracy of the method were within the acceptable range. Relative standard deviation of peak area for E2 ranged from 1.373 to 3.668%, and for EE2 ranged from 0.829 to 6.495 %. The percentage recovery for E2 ranged from 82.3 to 99.84 %, and for EE2 ranged from 84.6 to 103.52 %. Linearity of the method was realized at range of 2.5 to 50 ng/mL and 100 to 1000 ng/mL for both E2 and EE2. The linear regression coefficients were 0.9979 and 0.9973 for E2 whereas for EE2 were 0.9983 and 0.9976. Limit of detection were found to be 0.05 ng/mL and 0.08 ng/mL for E2 and EE2 respectively. The obtained limits of quantification were 0.18 and 0.28 ng/mL for E2 and EE2 respectively. In untreated sewage the concentrations of E2 and EE2 were 0.28 ng/ml and 0.18 ng/ml respectively. But in subsequent wastewater stabilization ponds the concentrations were below detection limit. Therefore, the optimized HPLC-UV method is suitable for detection and quantification of endocrine disrupting estrogens when a level of pollution is at least 0.15 ng/ml. At low extent of pollution would require use of the method in conjunction with ELISA technique

Performance of wastewater stabilization ponds in treatment of endocrine disrupting estrogens in Morogoro urban and peri-urban, Tanzania

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology Vol. 6 (1), pp. 305-317,The aim of the study was to assess the performance of wastewater stabilization ponds (WSPs) in treatment of endocrine disrupting estrogens particularly estradiol (E2), estrone (E1) and ethinylestradiol(EE2). The study was conducted at Mafisa and Mzumbe wastewater stabilization ponds located in Morogoro Urban and Periurban areas respectively. The endocrine disrupting estrogens in low quality water and sludge were detected and quantified using competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. The recovery of estrogens in this study ranged from 65% to 90%. The EE2, E1 and E2 were detected in all samples of low quality water and sludge from anaerobic to maturation ponds in both study sites. The overall estrogen reduction at Mafisa was 95.8%, 95.3%, 94.9% for EE2, E1 and E2 respectively. At Mzumbe the overall estrogen reduction was 81.6%, 89.3% and 82.5% for EE2, E1 and E2 respectively. The mean concentrations of estrogens in influent to effluent at Mafisa ranged from 35.6 to 1.5. 60.7 to 2.9 and 85.6 to 4.4 ng/ L for EE2, E1 and E2 respectively. The corresponding mean concentration at Mzumbe WSPs ranged from 25.5 to 2.7, 23.8 to 4.4 and 39.4 to 6.9 ng/L for EE2, E1 and E2 respectively. Sludge from anaerobic pond contained significant high amount of estrogens, whereas in other ponds median concentrations were significant low. The endocrine disrupting estrogens were significantly reduced in the wastewater stabilization ponds