The fate of estrogenic hormones in an engineered treatment wetland with dense macrophytes
Water Environment Research
By: J.L. Gray and D.L. Sedlak
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Abstract
Recently, the estrogenic hormones 17??-estradiol (E2) and 17??-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) have been detected in municipal wastewater effluent and surface waters at concentrations sufficient to cause feminization of male fish. To evaluate the fate of steroid hormones in an engineered treatment wetland, lithium chloride, E2, and EE 2 were added to a treatment wetland test cell. Comparison of hormone and tracer data indicated that 36% of the E2 and 41% of the EE 2 were removed during the cell's 84-h hydraulic retention time (HRT). The observed attenuation was most likely the result of sorption to hydrophobic surfaces in the wetland coupled with biotransformation. Sorption was indicated by the retardation of the hormones relative to the conservative tracer. Biotransformation was indicated by elevated concentrations of the E2 metabolite, estrone. It may be possible to improve the removal efficiency by increasing the HRT or the density of plant materials.
Suggested Citation
Gray, J., Sedlak, D., 2005, The fate of estrogenic hormones in an engineered treatment wetland with dense macrophytes: Water Environment Research, v. 77, no. 1, p. 24-31, https://doi.org/10.2175/106143005X41582.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | The fate of estrogenic hormones in an engineered treatment wetland with dense macrophytes |
| Series title | Water Environment Research |
| DOI | 10.2175/106143005X41582 |
| Volume | 77 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 2005 |
| Language | English |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Water Environment Research |
| First page | 24 |
| Last page | 31 |