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EVALUATION OF DRINKING WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES FOR REMOVAL OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS (EDCS)
Citation:
SCHENCK, K. M., T. F. SPETH, N. DUGAN, L. G. ROSENBLUM, AND T. WIESE. EVALUATION OF DRINKING WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES FOR REMOVAL OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS (EDCS) . Presented at 2006 Science Forum, Washington, DC, May 16 - 18, 2006.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public
Description:
A number of the chemicals identified as potential EDCs have been observed in surface and ground waters leading to concern over the possible presence of EDCs in finished drinking waters. Although there has not yet been a determination of risks posed by EDCs in finished waters, it is prudent to explore if strategies already employed to manage other drinking water risks can also manage risks associated with EDCs. This project investigates the efficacy of various drinking water treatment processes in removing EDCs from source waters. This project has four components. The first is the development of analytical methods for the EDCs being evaluated. Initially, a set of steroid hormones will be studied, followed by a group of alkylphenolic compounds. The second component is the application of an estrogen-dependent, transformed cell line-based reporter gene assay, the MVLN assay, to evaluate the presence of estrogenic activity in water samples. The third part of the study is to conduct bench-scale experiments to evaluate the removal of EDCs by various drinking water treatment processes. Pilot-scale evaluations may be conducted in the fourth part of the study, if warranted. The first three components of the research are underway. The analytical method for the steroids has been developed and the method for the alkylphenols is currently being developed. Bench-scale studies are being conducted to evaluate the removal of steroids by coagulation and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption. GAC isotherm studies, using ethynylestradiol, indicate that the steroids will be strongly adsorbed; however, the isotherm studies required long equilibrium times which suggest that the rate of adsorption was very slow. To further investigate the GAC adsorption kinetics, column studies are being conducted. The results of the MVLN assay have been consistent with the analytical results for the isotherm samples, as would be expected following adsorption onto GAC. Coagulation studies are currently in progress. This ongoing research will provide information on the ability of various drinking water treatment technologies to remove EDCs that may be present in source waters. The results of this research could be used by the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW), the states and municipalities, and drinking water utilities for selecting optimal EDC removal processes and subsequently reducing human exposures to EDCs.