Estrogenic Compounds and Estrogenicity in Surface Water, Sediments, and Organisms from Yundang Lagoon in Xiamen, China

Seven estrogenic compounds—estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), diethylstilbestrol (DES), nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA)—in sediments, surface water, pore water, and organisms were investigated and estrogenic activities were estimated by examining estradiol equivalent (EEQ) concentrations in Yundang Lagoon of Xiamen. The results showed that estrogenic compounds were present in all matrixes of interest: in surface water, ranging from 609.61 to 711.31 ng/l; in pore water, ranging from 562.12 to 1038.15 ng/l; in sediments, ranging from 1433.12 to 2060.41 ng/g; and in biota samples, ranging from 1373.76 to 3199.09 ng/g (lipid weight). NP was the predominant component in all collected samples and the highest concentration was 1964.80 ng/g in sediment. Total EEQ ranged from 4.56 to 13.79 ng/l in surface water, from 2.40 to 17.16 ng/l in pore water, and from 8.66 to 23.95 ng/g in sediments. However, major contributors to total EEQ concentrations were E2, E1, and DES. The EEQ concentrations in surface water samples were at a higher level in comparison to that reported in European countries. To biological sample, the highest level of total estrogenic compounds was found in the short-necked clam. Higher values of the biota–sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) were found in short-necked clam and black seabream, indicating that the living habits of organism and physical–chemical properties of estrogenic compounds might influence the bioavailability of estrogenic compounds in organisms.