Evidence that watershed nutrient management practices effectively reduce estrogens in environmental waters

We evaluate the impacts of different nutrient management strategies on potential for co-managing estrogens and nutrients in environmental waters Potomac watershed Chesapeake Bay. These co-management approaches represent agricultural urban runoff, wastewater treatment plant effluent, combined sewer overflow replacements. Twelve estrogenic compounds their metabolites were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Estrogenic activity (E2Eq) was measured vitro bioassay. detected estrone E1 (0.05–6.97 ng L−1) estriol E3 (below detection-8.13 one conjugated estrogen (estrone-3-sulfate E1-3S; below L−1). widely distributed positively correlated with E2Eq, water temperature, dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Among nonpoint sources, concentrations E1, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) total nitrogen (TDN) decreased 51–61%, 77–82%, 62–64%, 4–16% restored streams best practices (BMPs) relative to unrestored without BMPs. In a (Blue Plains WWTP), >94% E1-3S, E3, E2Eq TDN removed while SRP increased 305% during nitrification/denitrification as part advanced treatment. Consequently, WWTP effluents comparable or even lower than those observed receiving stream river waters, effects discharges downstream minor. Highest value (CSO). This study suggests that upgrades biological removal, CSO management, certain BMPs controls have remove from point sources along other contaminants rivers.