“The issue of endocrine disrupters must be recognised as a society problem and not a specific water industry problem and all regulatory policy should be underpinned by sound science. The broad issue of endocrine disrupters is extremely large and the water industry can only contribute to the greater programme”.
Thus, Paul West, Client Manager for UKWIR, set the scene for an UKWIR workshop Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in Wastewater.
Endocrine-disrupting substances are naturally occurring or synthetic substances that interfere with the functioning of the endocrine (hormone) systems. The endocrine systems regulate many different physiological processes, but the main concerns to date have been about their effects upon reproductive systems.
The oestrogenic properties of treated sewage effluents have been observed recently in research funded by the EA. Subsequently these observations have been linked to subtle physiological changes in certain fish species in rivers below some sewage effluent discharges.
Significant uncertainties remain over what substances (and combinations of substances) are implicated; the concentrations at which effects occur; the severity of the effects and the overall risks to the environment. There is also little knowledge about how these substances behave as they pass through the different processes used in the treatment of sewage. Consequently there is a risk that imposed controls will not be based on a thorough understanding of either the environmental need or the availability of sustainable treatment technologies.
The water industry recognises the need to maintain up to date knowledge of technical developments in this key area. It needed to understand the impact of sewage treatment processes on these compounds and to be able to present valid information on treatment issues to Regulators, without which there is a risk that controls will be imposed that are unnecessarily stringent and the potential cost burden on society will be unnecessarily high.
The thrust of the UKWIR programme is to understand the relationship between these chemicals and the wastewater treatment processes.
Bristol Water's Arnold Bates, UKWIR project manager, described UKWIR's Scoping Study on the Fate of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals.
This initial study generated specific research projects that were then covered by the contractors involved. Dr Malcolm Hetheridge of Astra Zeneca concentrated on the work on steroid conjugate stability in wastewaters and Dr Howard Rodgers of WRc-NSF described Toxchem, a software package that predicts the fate of chemicals during sewage treatment. Dr Andrew Johnson of CEH Wallingford dealt with the sorptive behaviour of oestrogens.
These topics were complemented by a number of expert presentations. Professor Charles Tyler from Exeter University described the work on the effects of exposure of treated wastewater on fish.
Dr John Lester outlined Imperial College's long experience of working on the breakdown and removal of anthropogenic chemicals in wastewater. The EU funded Community Programme of Research on Environmental Hormones and Endocrine Disrupters (COMPREHEND) was outlined by Professor Alan Pickering of CEH, Windermere. He noted that a survey had been carried out on effluent across Europe and that it was important to keep in contact with this programme, especially as it is not certain how EC regulations might develop.
Analytical methods
The analysis of endocrine disrupting substances is crucial, not only in advancing knowledge, but also in the development of regulations. This presents quite a challenge as endocrine disrupters are different from normal groupings of substances in that they are grouped on their biological activity and not on their chemical compo-sition. Arnold Bates described the results of initial UKWIR work on analytical methods and raising the issue of how easily they can be translated for use at a wide range of laboratories.
New projects
The presentations and accompanying discussions have been of great assistance in planning UKWIR research programme in a wider and more informed context. Since the workshop a number of projects have been announced.
Endocrine Modulating Effects of Wastewater Treatment Effluents is a three year project in collaboration with the Environment Agency. The University of Exeter are to carry out the work that is a continuation of a joint Northumbrian Water and Anglian Water project.
The Fate and Behaviour of Endocrine Disrupting Substances in Wastewater Treatment Processes is to be carried out by WRc-NSF. Besides placing the industry in a position to respond appropriately and effectively to the regulator it will identify potential additional costs to customers arising from any additional controls on effluent charges.
For further details on these projects,contact the UKWIR programme manager, Gordon Wheale on email; gwheale@ukwir.org.uk.
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