Country

Compound

Conc. (ng/l)¹

LOD (ng/l)

Method

Comments

Ref.

Denmark

17b-estradiol
estrone
ethinylestradiol

< LOD – 2.5
< LOD – 6.1
< LOD – 4.7

1
1
1

GC-MS/MS

Measured in effluent from 8 STPs in Aarhus County (n = 3 for each). STPs all had mechanical and biological treatment steps with a nitrification step. Some had additional denitrification, filter and chemical steps. E2 detected in 2, E1 in 22 and EE2 in 2 of 24 samples.

(2)

Denmark

17b-estradiol
estrone
ethinylestradiol

< LOD
< LOD – 5.2
< LOD

1
1
1

GC-MS/MS

Measured in effluent from seven low-technology sewage treatment works.

(2)

Denmark

17b-estradiol
estrone
ethinylestradiol

< LOD – 11 (< 1)
< LOD – 63 (< 1)
4.9 - 7.0 ( 6.3)

1
1
1

GC-MS/MS

Detected in effluent from four STPs in Copenhagen

(141)

England

17bestradiol
estrone
estriol
ethinylestradiol

LOD – 0.9
LOD – 3.4
LOD – 0.2
< LOD

-
-
-
-

GC-MS

Effluent from two STPs in North London

(142)

England

17b-estradiol
estrone
estriol
ethinylestradiol

1.6 – 7.4
6.4 – 29
2.0 – 4.0
< LOD

-
-
-
-

GC-MS

Three STP effluents. All used activated sludge processes.

(139)

England

17b-estradiol
estrone
ethinylestradiol

< LOD – 7.97
0.8 – 2.45
0.56

1
1
1

GC-MS/MS

Three STPs; two with activated sludge treatment and one with a percolating filter process.

(35)

England

17b-estradiol
estrone
ethinylestradiol

5
18
< 0.1

-
-
-

GC-MS

One STP. Mean concentrations

(34)

Germany

17b-estradiol
estrone
ethinylestradiol

0.15 – 5.2 (0.4)
0.35 – 18 (1.5)
0.1 – 8.9 (0.7)

0.15
0.1
0.1

HRGC-(NCI)-MS

Results from three municipal STPs sampled over 5 months (total n = 16). The plants all used a three step treatment of wastewater consisting of preliminary clarification, an activated sludge step and final clarification. The plants had a capacity of 15,000- 350,000 P.E. Mix of domestic and industrial or domestic and agricultural sewage. E2, E1 and EE2 were detected above the LOD in 14, 15 and 14 of 16 samples, respectively.

(138)

Germany

17b-estradiol
estrone
estriol
ethinylestradiol

< LOD – 21
< LOD
< LOD
< LOD - 62

1
1
1
1

GC-MS

20 STPs. E2 detected above 10 ng/l in 2 and EE2 in 15 of the 20 samples.

(143)

Germany

17b-estradiol
estrone
ethinylestradiol

< LOD – 3 (< LOD)
< LOD – 70 (9)
< LOD – 15 (1)

1
1
1

GC-MS/MS

16 municipal STPs treating mainly domestic sewage. All STPs used at least three treatment steps: preliminary and final clarification and an aerator tank.

E2, E1 and EE2 was detected in 8, 14 and 9 of 16 samples, respectively.

(144)

Sweden

17b-estradiol
estrone
ethinylestradiol

1.1
5.8
4.5

0.5
0.5
2

GC-MS

STP processing primarily domestic sewage from 3500 people. It had chemical and biological treatment steps – no anaerobic denitrification step.

(3)

Nether- lands

17b-estradiol
estrone
ethinylestradiol

< 0.8
< 0.3 – 11
< 0.3 – 2.6

0.8 – 1.5
0.3 – 0.6
0.3 – 0.6

GC-MS/MS

Municipal effluent from five STPs (n=10)

(6)

Nether- lands

17b-estradiol
estrone
ethinylestradiol

< LOD – 12
< LOD – 47
< LOD

0.1 – 1.8
0.1 – 1.8
0.1 – 1.8

GC-MS/MS

Three STPs sampled twice. All were based on activated sludge systems.

(146)

Nether- lands

17b-estradiol
estrone
ethinylestradiol
  
17b-estradiol
estrone
ethinylestradiol

< 0.6 - 12 (0.9)
< 0.4 - 47 (4.5)
< 0.2 – 7.5 (< LOD)
  
< 0.4 - 1.8
< 0.1 - 11
< 0.2 - 2.6

0.5-2.4
0.3-1
0.3-1.8

GC-MS/MS

Measured in effluent from three STPs receiving primarily domestic sewage (sampled twice). Total capacity of 300,000 – 560,000 P.E.
    
Measured in two industrial STPs with a capacity of 100,000 P.E.
All STPs had activated sludge systems

(140)

Italy

17b-estradiol
estrone
estriol
ethinylestradiol

0.35 – 3.3 (1.0)
2.5 – 82.1 (9.3)
0.43 – 18
< LOD – 1.7 (0.45)

0.2
0.08
0.2
0.3

LC-ESI-MS/MS

From six Roman STPs (n=5 for each).
The STPs received sewage from 40,000 – 1,200,000 inhabitants

(145)

Italy

17b-estradiol
estrone
estriol
ethinylestradiol

< LOD – 7
< LOD – 54
< LOD – 28
< LOD – 2.2

0.1 – 1.8
0.1 – 1.8
o.1 – 1.8
0.1 – 1.8

GC-MS/MS

Five roman STPs (n= 2-3 for each). All based on activated sludge systems.

(146)

Israel

Sum of
17b-estradiol and estrone

6.5 – 50.1

1.91

RIA

Tel Aviv STP (n =3)

(140)

USA

17b-estradiol
ethinylestradiol

0.48 – 3.66
< LOD – 0.76

0.107
0.053

RIA

Effluent from four municipal STPs
E2 detected at all sites and EE2 at 3 of 4.

(147)

USA

17b-estradiol
ethinylestradiol

< LOD – 4.05
< LOD – 2.42

0.1
0.1

ELISA

Effluent from four STPs (each sampled 4 times over a period of up to two years) with varying degrees of treatment up to very advanced.

(148)

Canada

17b-estradiol
estrone
estriol

< LOD
6 - 8
< LOD - 33

5
5
10

GC-MS

From four STPs (n=2 for each)
High detection limits

(149)

Canada

17b-estradiol
estrone
estriol

< LOD – 64 (6)
< LOD – 48 (3)
< LOD – 42 (9)

1
1
1

GC-MS/MS

Ten municipal STPs treating mainly domestic sewage. All STPs used at least three treatment steps: preliminary and final clarification and an aerator tank.

E2, E1 and EE2 was detected in 8, 8 and 9 of 10 samples, respectively.

(144)