A NATIONWIDE SURVEY OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS IN SOURCE AND DRINKING WATERS IN JAPAN

Abstract

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, EDCs are of increasing interest from the viewpoint of health effects and human exposure as well as abnormality in wildlife reproductive systems. A nationwide survey of these EDCs was conducted to collect information on their existence in source and drinking waters in Japan. The analyzed 68 chemicals were as follows; 9 ethyl phthalates and similar compounds, 16 phenols, 8 styrenes, 2 organic tin compounds, 2 hormones, 26 pesticides and 5 other chemicals listed in SPEED '98 announced by the Environment Agency. Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) was most frequently detected in 88% of 45 raw watersand 88% of 42 treated waters. Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) was found both in 26% of raw waters and in 12% of treated waters, as well. The maximum concentration of DEHP in treated water was 0.00026 mg/l, and that of DBP was 0.00018 mg/l. Bisphenol A (32%) and phenol (21%) were also common in raw waters, though they were hardly found in treated waters after chlorination. Among pesticides, pentachlorophenol (PCP) was found in 4 raw waters, with the maximum concentration of 0.00004 mg/l, and one treated water.