![]() ![]() Consequently, endocrine-disrupting chemicals are included in ANNEX VIII of the Water Framework Directive as one group of relevant pollutants. The contamination of the environment with endocrine disruptors is of growing concern because of the evidence that these compounds might affect wildlife populations 1- 3. A strong correlation between the measured estrogenic activity and the concentration of the sediment-associated 4-iso-nonylphenol underlines the relevance of this compound class as a xenoestrogen in the catchment area of the river Saale. Under consideration of compound concentration and compound specific estrogenic activity the 4-iso-nonylphenols contributed most to the observed estrogenic effect. The maximal concentrations of 4-iso-nonylphenol and estrone were 115 mg/kg dry weight and 20 µg/kg dry weight at the sampling site Luppe, which showed in accordance the highest biological activity. Aliquots of the sediment extracts were analyzed for 4-nonylphenols and natural steroidal estrogens as possible candidates with an estrogenic potential. At two sampling sites, elevated levels of estrogenic activity up to 55,000 ng ethinylestradiol equivalents per kilogram sediment dry weight were detected in the respective sediment extracts. ![]() ![]() Sediments along the river Saale, one of the main tributaries of the river Elbe, were characterized with the yeast estrogen screen to elucidate possible sources of endocrine-disrupting compounds that might contribute to the downstream contamination of the river Elbe. ![]()
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