Occurrence and distribution of endocrine-disrupting compounds in the Honghu Lake and East Dongting Lake along the Central Yangtze River, China.

Lakes along the Yangzte River are very important for inhabitants due to their ecosystem service values. In this study, the level of eight endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) was studied in the Honghu Lake and East Dongting Lake. In each lake, 21 water samples and 21 sediment samples were collected. The total concentrations of eight EDCs in surface water (47.60-419.82 ng L(-1), mean value: 225.65 ng L(-1)) and sediments (202.71-635.36 ng g(-1) dry weight (dw), mean value 371.90 ng g(-1) dw) of Honghu Lake were significantly higher than those in surface water (43.52-394.21 ng L(-1), mean value 153.03 ng L(-1)) and sediment (70.01-464.63 ng g(-1) dw, mean value 238.42 ng g(-1) dw) in East Dongting Lake. 4-Nonylphenol (NP), 4-octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA) in surface water and sediments were main EDCs in two lakes. No correlation relationships were found between concentrations of EDCs in water and sediment from two lakes. The concentrations of OP and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in sediments of Honghu Lake had significant positive correlation with the content of total organic carbon (TOC). The concentrations of EDCs in outlet of Honghu Lake were comparable to those in the main lake, whereas the EDCs in outlet of East Dongting Lake were lower than those in the main lake. The EDCs in Honghu Lake and East Dongting Lake may have a significant potential biological effect on fish based on the estimation of EDC estrogenicity.