UV and UV/H2O2 degradation and subsequent toxicity of endocrine disrupting chemicals in water

Due to rising concern regarding the presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in surface water and groundwater throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe, treatment of these chemicals in drinking water and wastewater to protect human health and the environment is an area of great interest. Many conventional treatment schemes are relatively ineffective in removing EDCs from water and wastewater. This is concerning because these chemicals are biologically active at very low concentrations and effects of mixtures are relatively unknown. 17-α-estradiol (E2), 17-β-ethinyl-estradiol (EE2), and bisphenol-A (BPA), all suspected EDCs, were degraded significantly by medium pressure (MP) UV and UV/H2O2 AOP. The UV/H2O2 processes were significantly more effective, degrading EDCs by between 80% and 99.3% with a dose of 1000mJ/cm. A steady state model was developed to determine EDC destruction efficiency in waters of differing quality. The model effectively predicted destruction in water, where concentrations of all scavenging species were known. Subsequent analysis of treated water was carried out using a Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) assay. Based on this assay, complete destruction of estrogenic activity was possible under advanced oxidation conditions.