Endocrine active industrial chemicals: Release and occurrence in
the environment
A. Johnson and M. J�rgens
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10
8BB, UK
Abstract: Of the xenobiotic endocrine active substances (EASs),
tributyltin (TBT) has had the clearest link to an impact on aquatic
ecology. Its release from marine antifouling paints had a drastic impact
on dogwhelk populations in polluted harbors due to a masculization effect.
4-tert-nonylphenol is seen as the most significant of the industrial
xenobiotic estrogen mimics, being implicated as the dominant endocrine
disruptor in certain industrialized river reaches. Apart from hot spots
associated with particular industries, the estrogenic alkylphenols,
phthalates, and bisphenol A are present in effluent and receiving water
at concentrations below that which would give cause for concern. Other
more bioaccumulative compounds such as polybrominated flame retardants,
dioxins, furans may possess some endocrine active properties. The possibility
of additivity effects may yet mean that low concentrations of xenobiotic
EASs will need careful consideration. It is noted that considerable
quantities of many of these compounds are often found in sewage sludge
and sediments.
*Report from a SCOPE/IUPAC project: Implication of
Endocrine Active Substances for Human and Wildlife (J. Miyamoto and
J.Burger, editors). Other reports are published in this issue,
pp. 1617-2615.
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