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DEVELOPMENT OF CHEMICAL METHODS TO CHARACTERIZE EXPOSURE TO EDCS IN THE NEUSE RIVER BASIN
Citation:
MedinaVera, M, S L. Harper, L H. Wright, E A. Coppedge, M S. Lumpkin, AND G. Ferrell. DEVELOPMENT OF CHEMICAL METHODS TO CHARACTERIZE EXPOSURE TO EDCS IN THE NEUSE RIVER BASIN. Presented at Effective Risk Management of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, Cincinnati, OH, September 18-19, 2001.
Impact/Purpose:
1) Develop methods of ecological exposure (e.g. rapid , sensitive analytical screening methods for a select list of antibiotics widely used in agriculture primarily in CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations).
2) Do Measurements & Provide data for multicompartment models of fate and transport.
3) Study biomagnification of specific chemicals and toxic metals.
4) Study specific pharmaceuticals:
*Determine the routes of entry and the impact of environmental factors such as rainfall on the movement and survivorability of selected antimicrobials in the environment.
*Determine if the entry of agriculture based antibiotics into the environment contributes to resistance in bacterial populations.
*Determine the contribution from municipal waste water treatment plants to antibiotic loading in the environment.
5) Develop methods for the analysis of alkylphenol ethoxylates and derivatives.
Description:
To develop a quantitative health and environmental risk assessment of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), information on exposures is essential. A full exposure assessment has complex requirements that require preliminary information to direct further research in this area. Such research begins with refining the biological and chemical methods for selected endocrine disrupting compounds in fresh and brackish, polluted and unpolluted waters, sediment, soil and selected aquatic organisms. Accurate characterization of the exposures can be done by using valid methods that are sensitive and reliable. Adequate methods provide tools that will help with the understanding of pathways of exposure, fate and transport of selected endocrine disruptors. Identification of data gaps stressed the need for better methods in the identification and quantitation of EDCs such as alkylphenols and selected toxic metals. Current efforts focus on the development of normal phase and reverse phase chromatography (HPLC), accelerated solvent extraction, solid phase extraction, and atomic spectroscopy techniques.
This document has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.