scholarly journals Membrane filtration in water recycling: removal of natural hormones

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.D. Nghiem ◽  
A.I. Schäfer ◽  
T.D. Waite

Recent detections of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in effluent are of great concern to sections of the community associated with the issue of water recycling. In vitro and in vivo studies by many researchers have confirmed the impacts of EDCs on trout at the common concentration encountered in sewage effluent. Amongst many types of EDCs the impacts of steroid estrogens such as estrone, estradiol (natural hormones) and ethinylestradiol (a synthetic hormone) are prominent as they have far higher endocrine-disrupting potency than other synthetic EDCs. Given the continuous developments in membrane technology, tertiary treatment using membrane processes has been identified as a promising technology to provide a safeguard to water recycling practice and to protect the environment. This paper investigates retention and adsorptive behavior of the natural hormones estrone and estradiol by two commercial low-pressure nanofiltration membranes TFC-SR2 and TFC-S, using dead end stirred cell systems. The removal phenomena of estradiol are similar to that of estrone. pH has been found to significantly influence the adsorption of estrone and estradiol by the membranes, presumably due to hydrogen bonding. This adsorption is critical in the risk of possible release of such hormones to the product waters. Total adsorbed amounts were calculated for standard membrane elements and are indeed important.

Endocrinology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 147 (6) ◽  
pp. s25-s32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek V. Henley ◽  
Kenneth S. Korach

Abstract The term endocrine-disrupting chemicals is used to define a structurally diverse class of synthetic and natural compounds that possess the ability to alter various components of the endocrine system and potentially induce adverse health effects in exposed individuals and populations. Research on these compounds has revealed that they use a variety of both nuclear receptor-mediated and non-receptor-mediated mechanisms to modulate different components of the endocrine system. This review will describe in vitro and in vivo studies that highlight the spectrum of unique mechanisms of action and biological effects of four endocrine-disrupting chemicals–diethylstilbestrol, genistein, di(n-butyl)phthalate, and methoxyacetic acid–to illustrate the diverse and complex nature of this class of compounds.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwenneg Kerdivel ◽  
Denis Habauzit ◽  
Farzad Pakdel

In all vertebrate species, estrogens play a crucial role in the development, growth, and function of reproductive and nonreproductive tissues. A large number of natural or synthetic chemicals present in the environment and diet can interfere with estrogen signaling; these chemicals are called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) or xenoestrogens. Some of these compounds have been shown to induce adverse effects on human and animal health, and some compounds are suspected to contribute to diverse disease development. Because xenoestrogens have varying sources and structures and could act in additive or synergistic effects when combined, they have multiple mechanisms of action. Consequently, an important panel ofin vivoandin vitrobioassays and chemical analytical tools was used to screen, evaluate, and characterize the potential impacts of these compounds on humans and animals. In this paper, we discuss different molecular actions of some of the major xenoestrogens found in food or the environment, and we summarize the current models used to evaluate environmental estrogens.


2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Shimada ◽  
Yonju Ha ◽  
Akira Tsukada ◽  
Noboru Saito ◽  
Shinobu Maekawa ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Donatella Caserta ◽  
Flavia Costanzi ◽  
Maria Paola De Marco ◽  
Luisa Di Benedetto ◽  
Eleonora Matteucci ◽  
...  

Several available studies have already analyzed the systemic effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on fertile woman and neonatal outcomes, but little is still known in humans about the precise mechanisms of interference of these compounds with the endometrial receptivity. There is consistent evidence that continuous and prolonged exposure to EDCs is a risk factor for reduced fertility and fecundity in women. Preliminary studies on mammalian models provide robust evidence about this issue and could help gynecologists worldwide to prevent long term injury caused by EDCs on human fertility. In this systematic review, we aimed to systematically summarize all available data about EDC effects on blastocyst endometrial implantation. We performed a systematic review using PubMed®/MEDLINE® to summarize all in vivo studies, carried out on mice models, analyzing the molecular consequences of the prolonged exposure of EDC on the implantation process. 34 studies carried out on mouse models were included. Primary effects of EDC were a reduction of the number of implantation sites and pregnancy rates, particularly after BPA and phthalate exposure. Furthermore, the endometrial expression of estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR), as well as their activation pathways, is compromised after EDC exposure. Finally, the expression of the primary endometrial markers of receptivity (such as MUC1, HOXA10, Inn and E-cadherin) after EDC contact was analyzed. In conclusion EDC deeply affect blastocyst implantation in mouse model. Several players of the implantation mechanism are strongly influenced by the exposure to different categories of EDC.


2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 413-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kresten Ole Kusk ◽  
Tanja Krüger ◽  
Manhai Long ◽  
Camilla Taxvig ◽  
Anne E. Lykkesfeldt ◽  
...  

2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.D. Nghiem ◽  
J. McCutcheon ◽  
A.I. Schäfer ◽  
M. Elimelech

The widespread occurrence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as steroid hormones, in secondary wastewater effluents has become a major concern in the water recycling practice. This paper investigates the risk of steroid hormone breakthrough during nanofiltration membrane filtration in water recycling applications. The results indicate a dynamic equilibrium between adsorption and desorption of steroid hormone with regard to the membrane. This equilibrium can be pH dependent and there is a possibility for release of steroid hormones at high pH during membrane cleaning procedures or erratic pH variations. Increase in water recovery can severely increase the hormone breakthrough concentration. The results also indicate a possibility of accumulation of steroid hormones in the NF membrane, followed by subsequent release.


Development ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. dev.197459
Author(s):  
Ren Tanimoto ◽  
Kiyono Sekii ◽  
Kanako Morohaku ◽  
Jianzhen Li ◽  
David Pepin ◽  
...  

In mammals, primordial follicles assembled in fetuses or during infancy constitute the oocyte resources for life. Exposure to 17beta-estradiol and phytogenic or endocrine-disrupting chemicals during pregnancy and/or the perinatal period leads to the failure of normal follicle formation. However, the mechanisms underlying estrogen-mediated abnormal follicle formation and physiological follicle formation in the presence of endogenous natural estrogen are not well-understood. Here, we reveal that estrogen receptor 1, activated by estrogen, binds to the 5′ region of the anti-Mullerian hormone (Amh) gene and upregulates its transcription before follicle formation in cultured mouse fetal ovaries. Ectopic expression of AMH protein was observed in pregranulosa cells of these explants. Furthermore, AMH addition to the culture medium inhibited normal follicle formation. Conversely, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) produced in fetal liver reportedly blocks estrogen action, although its role in follicle formation is unclear. We further demonstrated that AFP addition to the medium inhibited ectopic AMH expression via estrogen, leading to successful follicle formation in vitro. Collectively, our in vitro experiments suggest that upon estrogen exposure, the integrity of follicle assembly in vivo is ensured by AFP.


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