Occurrence of phthalates and bisphenol A and F in the environment

Certain xenoestrogens, namely bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), were measured in various compartments (surface water, sediments, sewage treatment plant effluents, sewage sludge, dump water, liquid manure) in order to contribute to a better understanding of exposure to these compounds in different environments. Hundred and sixteen surface-water samples and 35 sediments from rivers, lakes and channels, 39 sewage effluents, and 38 sewage sludges were collected in Germany. Furthermore, ten liquid manure, two waste-dump and two compost-runoff water samples were also analysed. BPA measurements showed low concentrations from 0.0005 to 0.41 mug L-1 in surface water, in sewage effluents from 0.018 to 0.702 mugL(-1), in sediments from 0.01 to 0.19 mg kg(-1) and in sewage sludge from 0.004 to 1.363 mg kg(-1) dw. Measured concentrations of BPF were clearly lower than BPA in all environmental media. DEHP dominated the phthalate concentrations, which ranged from 0.33 to 97.8 mugL(-1) (surface water), 1.74 to 182 mug L-1 (sewage effluents), 27.9 to 154 mg kg(-1) dw (sewage sludge) and 0.21 to 8.44 mg kg(-1) (sediment). DBP was found only in minor concentrations and BBP, only in a few samples in low amounts. Very high concentrations of BPA and phthalates were confirmed in waste dump water and compost water samples as well as in the liquid manure samples. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.