Bisphenol A attenuation in natural microcosm: Contribution of ecological components and identification of transformation pathways through stable isotope tracing

[Display omitted] •BPA dissipation was studied in surface river water under environmental level.•SEM was used to study the contribution of environmental factors on BPA attenuation.•Stable isotope tracing approach using GC–MS and GC-C-IRMS techniques was applied.•14 transformation products were identified with 3 reported for the first time.•Five major pathways of BPA attenuation were proposed. Residues of bisphenol A (BPA) are ubiquitously detected in the surface water due to its widespread usage. This study systematically investigated the dissipation and kinetics of BPA under simulated hydrolysis, direct and indirect photolysis, bacterial degradation, microbial degradation and natural attenuation in microcosm. Structural equation modeling (SEM) by using partial least square method in path coefficient analysis suggested that the microbial degradation was the major factor involved in the natural attenuation of BPA. The potential transformation products were identified by using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and stable isotope tracing technique by simultaneous performing gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS). A total of fourteen including three novel transformation products of BPA were identified to indicate five possible pathways. An increased yield of labeled (δ13C) CO2 and detection of 13C-labeled phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) indicated the mineralization of BPA and possible utilization of BPA or its transformation products by microbes for cellular membrane synthesis, respectively.