The Presence of ۱۷ Beta-Estradiol in the Environment: Health Effects and Increasing Environmental Concerns

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) as active biological compounds can pose a threat to theenvironment through acute and chronic toxicity in organisms, accumulation in the ecosystem, andloss of habitats and biodiversity. They also have a range of possible adverse effects on environmentaland ecological health. Estradiol, as one of the natural estrogenic hormones released by the humansand livestock, may exert endocrine-disrupting effects on the nanogram-per-liter range and causeserious problems for the aquatic organisms and animals in many aquatic systems. Various studieshave reported the presence of synthetic estrogens such as ۱۷ alpha-ethinyl estradiol (EE۲) and naturalestrogens including ۱۷ beta-estradiol (E۲) in wastewater sludge, surface water, river bed sediment,and also digested and activated sludge. The aim of the present study was to review and evaluatethe endocrine disrupting compounds especially ۱۷ beta-estradiol, as a representative of estrogenhormones present in the environment and their disturbing effects on humans and wildlife.

Keywords:

Endocrine-disrupting compounds , ۱۷ beta-estradiol , Health effects