Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Pharmaceutically Active Compounds: USEPAs Current Research

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Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and
Pharmaceutically Active CompoundsUSEPAs
Current Research
Patti Lynne Tyler Regional Science Liaison EPA
Region 8
Colorado Wastewater Utility Council Meeting July
13, 2005
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Presentation Outline

• EDCs and PPCPs
• What is USEPAs research program for EDCs?
• Understanding basic science
• Understanding impacts on the environment and
  human health
• Future Research
• Regional Research
• Summary
• Additional Resources Information

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EDCs vs PPCPs

• EDCs Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
• PPCPs Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care
  Products
• EDCs and PPCPs are NOT the same thing
• Only a few PPCPs are known or suspected of being
  direct-acting EDCs (e.g., synthetic steroids)
• EDCs come from many chemical classes

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Overview Pharmaceuticalsin the Environment

• Certain pharmaceutically active compounds (e.g.,
  caffeine, aspirin, nicotine) have been known for
  over 20 years to occur in the environment.
• Environmental occurrence primarily resulting
  from treated and untreated sewage effluent.
• Only more recently has a larger picture emerged
  numerous PPCPs can occur (albeit at very low
  concentrations).
• Prior discovery delayed primarily by limitations
  in analytical environmental chemistry
  (ultra-trace enrichment and detection).
• Domestic sewage is a major source not just
  hospital sewage. CAFOs are a major source of
  antibiotics.

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Overview Pharmaceuticalsin the Environment

• Continual input of PPCPs to aquatic environment
  via sewage can impart a persistent quality to
  those compounds that otherwise possess no
  inherent environmental stability.
• The full extent, magnitude, and ramifications of
  their presence in the aquatic environment are
  largely unknown.
• Vast majority of all ecological monitoring
  studies to date have been performed in Europe
  (with exception of USGS).
• Use/release of antibiotics and natural/synthetic
  steroids to the environment has generated most of
  the controversy to date, but a plethora of other
  PPCPs have yet to be examined. Scope of overall
  issue is ill-defined.

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Overview Pharmaceuticalsin the Environment

• Toxicological significance for both humans and
  ecological exposure to multiple chemicals at
  trace concentrations (ppb-ppt) for long durations
  is poorly understood.
• If PPCPs eventually prove to be an environmental
  concern, it is unknown whether sewage treatment
  facilities could be cost-effectively modified to
  reduce emissions.
• Source control (aimed at both disposal and
  medical practices) may prove more effective
  (environmental stewardship programs).
• Focus should be on proper and sufficient science
  for establishing occurrence, exposure,
  susceptibility/effects, so that sound decisions
  can be made regarding human and ecological health

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USEPAs ED Research Plan

• Long-term Research Goals
• 1. Understand the basic science
• 2. Determine the extent of the problem

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Long-Term Goals 1 and 2

• Identify major sources of EDCs entering the
  environment, with focus on
• contaminated sediments
• sources of combustion
• concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)
• drinking water treatment plants
• wastewater treatment plants
• Develop tools for risk management of EDCs, such
  as biodegradation processes and identify
  pollution prevention strategies

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Waste Water Treatment Research Questions

• What is the fate of estrogenic EDCs during
  wastewater treatment?
• Estrogens (ethinyl estradiol) and metabolites
• Alkylphenols and AP ethoxylates
• What is the performance of unit processes in
  WWTPs?
• What engineering solutions are needed to address
  estrogenic EDCs in wastewater and biosolids?
• How do current biosolids treatment and disposal
  methods perform in treating EDCs?
• What is the capacity of aquatic sediments to
  manage the input of Alkylphenols and AP
  ethoxylates?
• Are other sewage treatment processes significant
  sources (septic systems, constructed wetlands)?

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Future Research, Outcomes and Impacts

• Determining the magnitude of adverse impacts of
  EDCs on human health
• Estimating population level impacts from
  exposures to EDCs in representative wildlife
  species

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Future Research, Outcomes and Impacts

• Developing approaches for reducing exposures to
  EDCs in contaminated sediment, wastewater
  treatment effluents, concentrated animal feeding
  operations, and combustion sources

(contd)
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Future Research, Outcomes and Impacts

• Developing improved methods and models for EDC
  exposure assessments
• Developing improved approaches for integrated
  risk assessments
• Incorporating mechanisms of action
• Integrating human health and ecological data
• Taking into consideration risks to susceptible
  populations, especially children
• Determining aggregate exposure and cumulative risk

(concluded)
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Regional Research

• Evidence of reproductive disruption in fish
  downstream of CO WWTP
• Sex ratio skewed towards females
• Intersex increased prevalence
• Unusual ovarian development
• Elevated vitellogenin in downstream juvenile
  males

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Summary

• There is global concern regarding exposures to
  chemicals that interfere with endocrine systems
• USEPAs long-term research program on EDCs
  focuses on determining whether humans and
  wildlife populations are being impacted by
  current levels of EDCs in the environment,
  identifying the sources of those exposures, and
  developing approaches to reduce or prevent
  exposure to EDCs

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Additional Resources

• WERF Fact Sheet Endocrine Disrupting
• Compounds and Implications for
• Wastewater Treatment (www.werf.org)
• ORDs Endocrine Disruptors Research Plan
• (www.epa.gov/ord/htm/documents/ORD-EDR-Feb1998.pd
  f)
• EPAs PPCP Website
• www.epa.gov/nerlesd1/chemistry/pharma
• EPAs Meeting on Pharmaceuticals in the
  Environment, Las Vegas, Aug 23-25th
• can participate via Website, contact Patti
  if interested

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Additional Resources (cont)

• 1999-2000 USGS implemented first-ever national
  reconnaissance of emerging pollutants in waters
• Published in 15 March 2002 issue of Environmental
  Science and Technology
• More information at http//toxics.usgs.gov/highli
  ghtswhatsin.htm

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Contact Information

• Patti Lynne Tyler
• USEPA Region 8
• Regional Science Liaison
• 303.312.6081
• tyler.patti_at_epa.gov