Endocrine Disrupting Compounds

HOW DO ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING COMPOUNDS (EDC's) EFFECT HUMANS?

There is not a person on this earth that does not have some hazardous chemicals in their tissues; exposure to them has been linked to several cancers and to a broad range of reproductive problems, including birth defects. The increasing incidence of some of these conditions, and our continued exposure to a cocktail of these chemicals, is alarming.

One of the patterns being observed in developed countries is the increase in chronic diseases associated with environmental factors: indeed, a quarter of all diseases have been attributed to environmental causes, and there can be little doubt that exposure to hazardous chemicals is one of them. Hormone (or endocrine) disrupting chemicals (EDC's) in particular pose a high risk to human welfare and are likely to be causing widespread harm. For example, some man-made chemicals have been linked with a range of effects on the reproductive system; spontaneous abortion; premature deliveries and low birth weight; delays and/or deficits in the mental ability of children. In addition, some chemicals may play a role in certain diseases and reproductive cancers.

Xenobiotics as EDC's

A xenobiotic is a chemical which is found in an organism but which is not normally produced or expected to be present in it. It can also cover substances which are present in much higher concentrations than are usual. Specifically, drugs such as antibiotics are xenobiotics in humans because the human body does not produce them itself nor would they be expected to be present as part of a normal diet. However, the term is also used in the context of pollutants such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls and their effect on the biota. Natural compounds can also become xenobiotics if they are taken up by another organism (e.g., uptake of natural human hormones by fish found downstream of sewage treatment plant outfalls). Every male fish in some European rivers shows pronounced female characteristics, according to Professor Alan Pickering of the Natural Environment Research Council. Speaking to the British Association's Festival of Science in London earlier this month, Pickering said, "We are finding this problem right across northern Europe, it is clearly widespread."

At about the same time abnormal fish were noticed in rivers in southern England downstream of sewage works. Scientists first thought pharmaceutical factory wastes discharging into the sewers were the cause. Research into the abnormalities was carried out in 1981 by Liverpool University, commissioned by the then state-owned water authorities. It was never published because they claimed the research was flawed. Recent scientific evidence confirms the suggestion made in 1988 that two natural human hormones and one synthetic contraceptive hormone are the likely EDCs in sewage works' discharges.

Twenty five years after the first abnormal fish were discovered in Britain's rivers, Pickering's report notes that, "Few, if any, studies have attempted to look for such evidence" affecting human health and there have been "no guidelines on testing pharmaceuticals for environmental impact, despite the fact that these chemicals are designed to be extremely potent and to degrade slowly."

Where do EDC's come from?

Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs), and other chemicals of concern are now practically omnipresent in wastewater wherever modern human habitation is encountered. Contemporary wastewater treatment systems, (WWTPs) were never intended or designed to accommodate such materials, much less remediate the concern caused by their presence in today's treated wastewater and potable water. In the United States, many laws mention the presence of EDCs and hormones in our water supply.

How can CWSI help with EDC remediation?

CWSI's patent-pending technology uses an ultra high efficiency ozone process for eliminating EDCs as well as waterborne hormones and other compounds in water. Our ozone diffusion technology is designed to enhance the oxidative properties of ozone as a potent removal mechanism for most EDC's and the many compounds of emerging concern.

The process of diffusing ozone into water occurs much like diffusing oxygen into water. A high transfer efficiency of oxygen or ozone into the water occurs due to the exponentially increased surface area provided by the small micron-sized bubbles and the long duration of bubble persistence. The system consists of a Mass Transfer Contactor located in the device where production of microbubbles of oxygen in the 1-10 micron range have been achieved. Standard Oxygen Transfer Efficiencies (SOTE) exceeded 60%, where Standard Aeration Efficiencies (SAE) of 3.17-kg/KW hour have been measured and noted.