Analysis and occurrence of estrogenic hormones and their glucuronides in surface water and waste water in The Netherlands

An analytical procedure was developed that enables routine analysis of four estrogenic hormones in concentrations below 1 ng/l in surface water and wa ste water. The recovery was 88-98% with a limit of detection of 0.1-2.4 ng/ l depending on the compound and the matrix measured. This method was used t o determine the occurrence of 17 beta-estradiol, 17 alpha-estradiol, estron e and 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol in the aquatic environment in The Netherlan ds. The data show that estrogenic hormones can be detected at low concentra tions (up to 6 ng/l) at some locations in surface water. In selected efflue nts of waste water treatment plants estrone and 17 beta-estradiol were dete cted in concentrations in the ng/l range. Concentrations of 17 alpha-estrad iol and the contraceptive 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol were in most of these s amples below the limit of detection. Hormone glucuronides were not detected in most surface water and effluents. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All ri ghts reserved.