Risk assessment of xenoestrogens in a typical domestic sewage-holding lake in China.

Release of domestic sewage leads to accumulation of xenoestrogens in holding waters, especially in closed or semi-enclosed waters such as lakes. In the study, the occurrence, distribution, estrogenic activity and risk of eight xenoestreogens were evaluated in Lake Donghu, China. Nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA) were identified as the main xenoestrogens ranging from tens of ngL(-1) (in the surface water) or ng g(-1)dw (in the suspended particles and sediment) to tens of μgL(-1) or μg g(-1)dw. The sum of 17β-estradiol equivalents (∑EEQs) ranged from 0.32 to 45.02 ngL(-1) in the surface water, 0.53 to 71.86 ng g(-1)dw in the suspended particles, and 0.09 to 24.73 ng g(-1)dw in the sediment. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was determined as the main contributor to ∑EEQs followed by NP. The risk assessment showed a higher risk in the surface water than in the suspended particles and sediment in such domestic sewage-holding lake.