Quantification of steroid estrogens in surface water samples from the Paraíba do Sul River by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

• Grant number: 12/06834-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Resources
• Principal Investigator: Claudinei Fernandes de Melo
• Grantee: João Paulo Camargo dos Santos
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Vale do Paraiba is a region of high population density and an important industrial center in Brazil. It is reported in the scientific literature that effluents from municipal wastewaters treatment plants have high concentrations of steroid estrogens, present in human urine and feces. However, there are few reports about the determination of these compounds in the Paraiba do Sul River. Considering that estrogens can interfere with reproductive system of aquatic species, the aim of this project is to determine the concentration of the estrogens estrone, estriol, 17beta-estradiol and 17alpha-ethynilestradiol in surface water samples from the Paraiba do Sul river by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. (AU)