Impact of sediment particle size on biotransformation of 17β-estradiol and 17β-trenbolone

Soil/sediment particle size has been reported to influence the sorption and bioavailability of steroid hormones in the environment. However, the impact of particle size on biotransformation has not been well elucidated. The present study investigated the dissipation of 17β-estradiol and 17β-trenbolone and the formation and degradation of the subsequent transformation products in different size fractions of a sandy and a silt loam sediment. The results showed that the decay of 17β-estradiol and 17β-trenbolone associated with fine particles followed a biphasic pattern with more rapid decay in the initial phase followed by a second phase with slower decay of the residues compared to their decay rates in the sand fraction. Estrone and trendione were detected as a primary biotransformation product for 17β-estradiol and 17β-trenbolone, respectively. The parent-to-product conversion ratios and the degradation rates of estrone and trendione varied among different size fractions, but no consistent correlation was observed between decay rates and sediment particle size. Estrone and trendione decayed in the whole sediments at rates not statistically different from those associated with the fine fractions. These results indicate that fine particles may play an important role in influencing the persistence of and the potential risk posed by steroid hormones in the aquatic systems. [Display omitted] •Steroid dissipation in the fine fractions followed a biphasic pattern.•Steroid associated with fine particles were persistent in the long term.•Fine sediment particles were vital in the formation and decay of metabolites.•Generally, 17β-E2 decayed faster than 17β-TB in most cases.