The occurrence of xenoestrogens in the Elbe river and the North Sea

The xenoestrogens Bisphenol A (BPA), p-alkylphenols and p-alkylphenol ethox ylates were determined in water samples of the North Sea, the Elbe river, a nd its tributaries Schwarze Elster, Mulde, Saale and the Weisse Elster. The sampling sites of the Elbe river reached from Schmilka at the German-Czech border to Cuxhaven at the estuary. Samples of the North Sea were taken in the German Bight. Additionally, freshly deposed sediments of the River Elbe and its tributaries were analyzed. Partitioning coefficients of these comp ounds for the distribution between suspended particulate matter (SPM) and t he aqueous phase were calculated for samples of the River Elbe at sampling site Geesthacht. The analytical procedure consisted of liquid-liquid extractions of the acid ified water samples using dichloromethane. Sediments and SPM samples were e xtracted by Accelerated Solvent Extraction with n-hexane/acetone. Following a clean-up by HPLC, the analytes were derivatized with heptafluorobutyric acid anhydride and quantified using GC-MSD. The concentration ranges of the compounds analyzed in water samples of the Elbe river were as follows (in ng 1(-1)): BPA 9-776, alkylphenols 10-221 an d alkylphenol ethoxylates 18-302. In sediment samples the concentrations we re (in mug kg(-1) dry mass): BPA 66-343, alkylphenols 17-1378 and alkylphen ol ethoxylates 30-1797. In samples of the North Sea the concentrations were generally about 1 order of magnitude lower. As shown by the concentration profiles following the River Elbe into the North Sea, the Elbe river must b e considered as a major pollution source for the North Sea concerning the c ompounds analyzed. The SPM/water-partitioning coefficients calculated (mean values) amounted to: BPA 4.50, alkylphenols 5.52-5.58 and alkylphenol etho xylates 5.60-6.38. A comparison of the results with data from other surface waters showed that concentrations of these xenoestrogens in the River Elbe and its tributarie s were relatively low. The evaluation of the data based on the lowest obser vable effect concentration (LOEC) for alkylphenols (endpoint: vitellogenin synthesis in male trout) indicated that the concentrations were well below the effectivity threshold. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.