An Ecological Risk Assessment of Nonylphenol and Its Ethoxylates in the Aquatic Environment |
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Authors: | Mark R Servos R James Maguire Donald T Bennie Hing-Biu Lee Philippa M Cureton Nicole Davidson |
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Institution: | 1. National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON, Canada L7R 4A6.;2. Existing Substances Branch, Environment Canada, Place Vincent Massey, 14th Floor, 351 St. Joseph Boulevard, Gatineau, QC, Canada K1A 0H3 |
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Abstract: | Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) are a group of surfactants that are widely used for industrial, commercial, institutional and household purposes in Canada. Ethoxylation of nonylphenol (NP) occurs upon reaction with ethylene oxide, producing NPEs, although NP is also used in the production of the antioxidant tris(nonylphenol)phosphite. NP and NPEs are not produced naturally, and the primary route of environmental exposure to NP and NPEs is via textile mill, pulp and paper mill and municipal wastewater treatment plant effluents. NPEs occur as complex mixtures and are described by the average ethoxylate chain length, which ranges from 1 to 100. The environmental fate of NPEs is strongly dependent on the effluent and, the degree and type of treatment to which the effluent is subjected. An ecological risk assessment was performed to determine if exposure to NP and NPEs results in effects on the Canadian environment, based on current use patterns. The Canadian ecological risk assessment found that adverse effects on aquatic organisms are likely, although assumptions were made with respect to appropriate dilution factors. |
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Keywords: | nonylphenol nonylphenol ethoxylates ecological risk assessment endocrine disruption effluent municipal wastewater treatment |
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