[Comparison of the estrogenic activity of organic compounds in source water and finished water from the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake in certain areas of Jiangsu Province].

A total of 43 source water and finished water samples were collected from the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake in WX and SZ areas of Jiangsu Province from October 2010 to March 2012. The XAD-2 resin was applied to absorb the organic compounds in each water sample respectively. After the procedure of elution, concentration and drying, nonvolatile organic compounds (NVOCs) were obtained. The recombinant yeast estrogen screen test was then applied to evaluate the estrogenic activities of NVOCs in each water sample. The results showed that all of the source water collected from the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake possessed estrogenic activities. The EEQ values of source water from Taihu Lake were 0.04-2.07 ng x L(-1), and the volume of EC(25-E2) were 9.06-31.62 mL; the EEQ values of source water from Yangtze River were 0.69-1.15 ng x L(-1), and the volume of EC(25-E2) were 9.06-31.62 mL. The samples from Taihu Lake in SZ area had higher estrogenic activities than the samples collected from WX area. No estrogenic activity was detected in 58.3% of the finished water samples after the treatment in water plants. The water plants which collected source water from the Yangtze River and from Taihu Lake reduced the estrogenic activities by 80.3% -100% and 55.5% -100%, respectively.