Monitoring of selected estrogenic hormones and industrial chemicals in groundwaters and surface waters in Austria

In order to address the Austrian situation concerning endocrine disrupting substances (EDS), a consortium called Austrian Research Cooperation on Endocrine Modulators (ARCEM) was established in 1999. Among several other issues that were investigated, ARCEM monitored more than 400 ground- and surface water samples for selected estrogenic hormones and industrial chemicals. Appropriate analytical methods were established using GC-HRMS for the detection of hormones and LC/ MSMS for the detection of industrial chemicals. Since analytical results were forwarded for toxicological assessments within the programme, quantification limits below 0.1 ng/l (ethinyl estradiol) and 10 ng/l (industrial chemicals) were required depending on the NOEL of the individual compound. Results indicate that both hormones and industrial chemicals occur in the selected ground- and surface water sites in detectable concentrations. Three river sites were identified as being charged with noticeable concentrations of EDS. These results were verified by biological indications within the part of the ARCEM programme dealing with bio-indications.