Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2025, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (4): 353-362.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2025.4.14

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Rapid detection and risk assessment of endocrine disrupting chemicals in typical urban waters in northern cities of China

HUANG Yi1,2,*(), DONG Xuan3, MA Zhiyuan4, TIAN Xizhao4, ZHU Shuai1,2, ZHU Yun1   

  1. 1. National Research Center for Geo-analysis (NRCGA), Beijing 100037, China
    2. Key Laboratory of Eco-geochemistry, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing 100037, China
    3. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 102401, China
    4. Hebei Geological Environmental Monitoring Institute, Shijiazhuang 050803, China
  • Received:2025-02-26 Revised:2025-04-10 Online:2025-07-25 Published:2025-08-04

Abstract:

Certain phenolic compounds, such as bisphenol A and alkylphenols, are recognized endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and emerging contaminants of global concern. They exhibit teratogenic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic properties, posing significant threats to ecosystems and human health. This study analyzed ten phenolic EDCs in 33 water samples (surface water, groundwater, leachate) from three North China cities using liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-QqQ-LIT-MS). Detection frequencies were 72% (surface water), 35% (groundwater), and 89% (leachate). Bisphenol A (BPA) reached maximum concentrations of 622ng/L (surface water), 21.8ng/L (groundwater), and 753ng/L (leachate). Ecological risk assessment for specific EDCs via the U.S. EPA risk quotient (RQ) method indicated high risk in surface water but low risk in groundwater. Pollutant profiles showed significant correlations between surface water and groundwater across cities, with consistent concentration trends suggesting potential contamination via surface water infiltration. Continuous monitoring of phenolic EDCs in groundwater is essential to assess their environmental persistence and health impacts.

Key words: phenolic compounds, emerging contaminants, groundwater, landfill leachate, ecological risk assessment

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