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Compounds that can alter the endocrine system of animals have been detected in water supplies around the world as the result of human activities. These substances are known as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) and have been linked to a variety of adverse effects in both humans and wildlife including hormone-dependent cancers, reproductive tract disorders, and reduction in reproductive fitness. Pharmaceutical compounds and their metabolites have been collectively termed pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs). Many PhACs have now been detected in surface water, a few of which have been detected in finished drinking water. The detection of EDCs and PhACs in source water is of great concern since these compounds have known physiological responses at low concentrations. Personal care products (PCPs) create another class of emerging contaminants that have been detected in surface and groundwater. Some PhACs and PCPs (PPCPs) are highly persistent and can function as EDCs. The majority of EDCs and PPCPs are more polar than traditional contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, and several have acidic or basic moieties. These properties, coupled with trace quantities, create unique challenges for both removal processes and analytical detection. There are three general approaches for monitoring the removal of EDCs and PPCPs: direct measurement of target compounds via analytical instrumentation; biological assays; and, indirect chemical measurements of compounds classes (e.g., organic iodine). These approaches are discussed in this paper with an emphasis on analytical methods for direct measurements. As part of an AWWA Research Foundation project to assess the removal of EDCs and PPCPs during water treatment, a method has been developed which uses automated solid-phase extraction and both gas and liquid tandem mass spectrometer detection. This method permits trace level identification and quantitation of a broad group of EDC and PPCP compounds in various types of water. Includes 27 references, tables, figures.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 11/01/2002 Number of Pages: 16File Size: 1 file , 490 KB