Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and
Pharmaceutically Active Compounds:
USEPA’s Current Research
Patti Lynne Tyler
Regional Science Liaison
EPA Region 8
Colorado Wastewater Utility
Council Meeting
July 13, 2005
Presentation Outline
• EDCs and PPCPs
• What is USEPA’s research program
for EDCs?
• Understanding basic science
• Understanding impacts on the environment and human
health
• Future Research
• Regional Research
• Summary
• Additional Resources & Information
EDCs vs PPCPs
• EDCs = Endocrine Disrupting
Chemicals
• PPCPs = Pharmaceuticals and Personal
Care Products
• EDCs and PPCPs are NOT the same thing
• Only a few PPCPs are known or suspected
of being direct-acting EDCs (e.g., synthetic
steroids)
• EDCs come from many chemical classes
Overview: Pharmaceuticals
in the Environment
Certain pharmaceutically active compounds (e.g., caffeine,
aspirin, nicotine) have been known for over 20 years to occur in
the environment.
Environmental occurrence primarily resulting from treated and
untreated sewage effluent.
Only more recently has a larger picture emerged — numerous
PPCPs can occur (albeit at very low concentrations).
Prior discovery delayed primarily by limitations in analytical
environmental chemistry (ultra-trace enrichment and detection).
Domestic sewage is a major source — not just hospital sewage.
CAFOs are a major source of antibiotics.
Overview: Pharmaceuticals
in the Environment
Continual input of PPCPs to aquatic environment via sewage can
impart a persistent quality to those compounds that otherwise possess
no inherent environmental stability.
The full extent, magnitude, and ramifications of their presence in the
aquatic environment are largely unknown.
Vast majority of all ecological monitoring studies to date have been
performed in Europe (with exception of USGS).
Use/release of antibiotics and natural/synthetic steroids to the
environment has generated most of the controversy to date, but a
plethora of other PPCPs have yet to be examined. Scope of overall
issue is ill-defined.
Overview: Pharmaceuticals
in the Environment
Toxicological significance for both humans and ecological
exposure to multiple chemicals at trace concentrations (ppb-
ppt) for long durations is poorly understood.
If PPCPs eventually prove to be an environmental concern, it is
unknown whether sewage treatment facilities could be cost-
effectively modified to reduce emissions.
Source control (aimed at both disposal and medical practices)
may prove more effective (“environmental stewardship”
programs).
Focus should be on proper and sufficient science for
establishing occurrence, exposure, susceptibility/effects, so
that sound decisions can be made regarding human and
ecological health
USEPA’s ED Research Plan
Long-term Research
Goals
1. Understand the basic
science
2. Determine the extent
of the problem
Long-Term Goals 1 and 2
• Identify major sources of EDCs
entering the environment, with
focus on:
• contaminated sediments
• sources of combustion
• concentrated animal feeding
operations (CAFOs)
• drinking water treatment plants
• wastewater treatment plants
• Develop tools for risk management
of EDCs, such as biodegradation
processes and identify pollution
prevention strategies
Waste Water Treatment
Research Questions
• What is the fate of estrogenic EDCs during wastewater
treatment?
• Estrogens (ethinyl estradiol) and metabolites
• Alkylphenols and AP ethoxylates
• What is the performance of unit processes in WWTPs?
• What engineering solutions are needed to address
estrogenic EDCs in wastewater and biosolids?
• How do current biosolids treatment and disposal
methods perform in treating EDCs?
• What is the capacity of aquatic sediments to “manage”
the input of Alkylphenols and AP ethoxylates?
• Are other sewage treatment processes significant
sources (septic systems, constructed wetlands)?
Future Research,
Outcomes and Impacts
• Determining the
magnitude of adverse
impacts of EDCs on
human health
• Estimating population
level impacts from
exposures to EDCs in
representative wildlife
species
Future Research,
Outcomes and Impacts
• Developing approaches
for reducing exposures
to EDCs in contaminated
sediment, wastewater
treatment effluents,
concentrated animal
feeding operations, and
combustion sources
(cont’d)
Future Research,
Outcomes and Impacts
• Developing improved methods and models for
EDC exposure assessments
• Developing improved approaches for
integrated risk assessments
• Incorporating mechanisms of action
• Integrating human health and ecological data
• Taking into consideration risks to susceptible populations,
especially children
• Determining aggregate exposure and cumulative risk
(concluded)
Regional Research
Evidenceof reproductive disruption in
fish downstream of CO WWTP:
Sex ratio: skewed towards females
Intersex: increased prevalence
Unusual ovarian development
Elevated vitellogenin in downstream
juvenile males
Summary
• There is global concern regarding exposures to
chemicals that interfere with endocrine systems
• USEPA’s long-term research program on EDCs
focuses on determining whether humans and
wildlife populations are being impacted by
current levels of EDCs in the environment,
identifying the sources of those exposures, and
developing approaches to reduce or prevent
exposure to EDCs
Additional Resources:
• WERF Fact Sheet: Endocrine Disrupting
Compounds and Implications for
Wastewater Treatment (www.werf.org)
• ORD’s Endocrine Disruptors Research Plan
(www.epa.gov/ord/htm/documents/ORD-EDR-
Feb1998.pdf)
• EPA’s PPCP Website:
www.epa.gov/nerlesd1/chemistry/pharma
• EPA’s Meeting on Pharmaceuticals in the
Environment, Las Vegas, Aug 23-25th
*can participate via Website, contact Patti
if interested
Additional Resources (cont)
1999-2000: USGS implemented first-ever
national reconnaissance of “emerging
pollutants” in waters
Published in 15 March 2002 issue of
Environmental Science and Technology
More information at:
http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlightswhatsin.htm
Contact Information
Patti Lynne Tyler
USEPA Region 8
Regional Science Liaison
303.312.6081
tyler.patti@epa.gov