2003 Volume 1 Issue 2 Pages 203-208
During the past several years, concern has risen over potential pollution of waterways with estrogenic compounds, including steroidal hormones from human and animal sources. However, it is unclear whether the concentrations of estrogenic substances present in the environment are sufficient to cause adverse physiological effects. In spite of the fact that it is the receiving body for the sewage coming from a big city and an industrial area, Nakdong River water is used as a source for waterworks from the upstream to the downstream of the river. As such, it poses a threat as having potential to cause adverse health effects in humans and wildlife. The aim of this research is to evaluate estrogenic activity and concentrations of endocrine disruptors in this water environment. Examination of Nakdong River basin revealed that estrogenic substances and activity are distributed over the entire middle and downstream area but excluding the upstream. Estrogenic activity cannot be sufficiently removed by conventional activated sludge treatment, but can be reduced entirely by oxidation processes such as prechlorination and the combination of sand filtration and ozonation in sewage treatment plants (STPs) or water treatment plants (WTPs). During water-purifying processing, estrogenic activity decreased significantly with prechlorination followed by coagulation and sedimentation treatment.
