Degradation of endocrine disrupting bisphenol A by 254 nm irradiation in different water matrices and effect on yeast cells.

The photodegradation of bisphenol A (BPA) in pure water, surface water and wastewater effluents was studied. The effect of different hydrogen peroxide concentrations on degradation was investigated. The rate of BPA photolysis in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was lower in wastewater effluent than in purified water. Phenol, 1,4-dihydroxylbenzene and 1,4-benzoquinone were identified by means of HPLC as intermediate products of the photodegradation of bisphenol A. In addition, the disappearance of the estrogenic activity of bisphenol A during irradiation was shown by the YES test. Based upon the YES test results, there was a strong decrease of estrogenic activity of parent compound after 120 min irradiation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.