Oestrogens and oestrogenic activity in raw and treated water in Severn Trent Water

Sewage effluent discharged to surface water has been shown to contain human hormones, particularly oestrogens, and synthetic chemicals which may be ab le to disrupt the endocrine system. Since many surface waters which receive sewage effluent are subsequently used as drinking water sources, it is imp ortant to demonstrate that treated drinking water is not contaminated. Oest rogenic activity in rivers and drinking water in the region of Severn Trent Water was studied using a combination of bioassay, to integrate exposure o ver lime, and advanced chemical analysis. There was little or no evidence o f substances that were oestrogenic, even in waters receiving significant am ounts of sewage effluent. Oestrogenic activity, as measured in the rainbow trout vitellogenin assay, was seen at the Tame/Trent confluence but this ac tivity was relatively weak. There was no activity detected at raw water int akes and no hormones or substances that are oestrogenic were detected in th e final drinking water. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.