Occurrence and risk assessment of steroid estrogens in environmental water samples: A five-year worldwide perspective

The ubiquitous occurrence of steroid estrogens (SEs) in the aquatic environment has raised global concern for their potential environmental impacts. This paper extensively compiled and reviewed the available occurrence data of SEs, namely estrone (E1), 17α-estradiol (17α-E2), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), estriol (E3), and 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2), based on 145 published articles in different regions all over the world including 51 countries and regions during January 2015–March 2020. The data regarding SEs concentrations and estimated 17β-estradiol equivalency (EEQ) values are then compared and analyzed in different environmental matrices, including natural water body, drinking and tap water, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) effluent. The detection frequencies of E1, 17β-E2, and E3 between the ranges of 53%–83% in natural water and WWTPs effluent, and the concentration of SEs varied considerably in different countries and regions. The applicability for EEQ estimation via multiplying relative effect potency (REPi) by chemical analytical data, as well as correlation between EEQbio and EEQcal was also discussed. The risk quotient (RQ) values were on the descending order of EE2 > 17β-E2 > E1 > 17α-E2 > E3 in the great majority of investigations. Furthermore, E1, 17β-E2, and EE2 exhibited high or medium risks in water environmental samples via optimized risk quotient (RQf) approach at the continental-scale. This overview provides the latest insights on the global occurrence and ecological impacts of SEs and may act as a supportive tool for future SEs investigation and monitoring. [Display omitted] •Five-year period worldwide occurrence status of steroid estrogens is summarized.•The utilization of 17β-estradiol relative effect potency (REPi) is discussed.•Estrogenic activity and environmental risks of steroid estrogens are assessed.•Control strategies are further required to efficiently eliminate steroid estrogens.