Occurrence and distribution of six selected endocrine disrupting compounds in surface- and groundwaters of the Romagna area (North Italy)

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are a wide group of contaminants of emerging concern known to be harmful for organisms. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence and distribution of six EDCs (estrone—E1, ß-estradiol—E2, 17α-ethinylestradiol—EE2, bisphenol A—BPA, perfluooctanoic acid—PFOA, perfluorooctane sulfonate—PFOS) in the Apenninic rivers and groundwaters of the Romagna area (North of Italy). Groundwaters were unaffected by EDC contamination, while all classes of compounds were detected at concentrations above the method quantification limit (MQL) in the majority of the river bodies. In detail, PFOA and PFOS concentrations varied between <MQL and 17.7 ng/l (PFOA) and between <MQL and 5.5 ng/l (PFOS), and their occurrence in the aquatic compartment was related to the discharge of wastewater treatment plant effluents. Concerning estrogens, EE2 was below the MQL in all samples, whereas E1 and E2 reached concentrations up to 39.7 ng/l (E2) and 28 ng/l (E1) in surface waters. The highest estrogen values were registered in those areas where livestock and farming are the main activities, indicating a close relation between these activities and estrogen release into the aquatic compartment. BPA (<MQL–171.3 ng/l) distribution in river waters did not show any correlation with a specific anthropic activity; a mixture of sources of contamination (e.g., industries of food packaging and plastic production) is rather responsible for its detection in river bodies. Overall, the northern part of the Romagna area showed a higher contamination by EDCs, in contrast with the southern part, which was almost unaffected by this kind of microcontamination.