Sources of Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in North Carolina Waterways: A Geographic Information Systems Approach
Sackett DK, Pow CL, Rubino MJ, Aday DD, Cope WG, Kullman S, Rice JA, Kwak TJ, Law M. 2015. Sources of Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in North Carolina Waterways: A Geographic Information Systems Approach. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 34:437–445
The presence of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), particularly estrogenic compounds, in the environment has drawnpublic attention across the globe, yet a clear understanding of the extent and distribution of estrogenic EDCs in surface waters and theirrelationship to potential sources is lacking. The objective of the present study was to identify and examine the potential input of estrogenicEDC sources in North Carolina water bodies using a geographic information system (GIS) mapping and analysis approach. Existing datafrom state and federal agencies were used to create point and nonpoint source maps depicting the cumulative contribution of potentialsources of estrogenic EDCs to North Carolina surface waters. Water was collected from 33 sites (12 associated with potential pointsources, 12 associated with potential nonpoint sources, and 9 reference), to validate the predictive results of the GIS analysis.Estrogenicity (measured as 17b-estradiol equivalence) ranged from 0.06 ng/L to 56.9 ng/L. However, the majority of sites (88%) hadwater 17b-estradiol concentrations below 1 ng/L. Sites associated with point and nonpoint sources had significantly higher 17b-estradiollevels than reference sites. The results suggested that water 17b-estradiol was reflective of GIS predictions, confirming the relevance oflandscape-level influences on water quality and validating the GIS approach to characterize such relationships.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Sackett, Dana; Pow, Crystal; Rubino, Matthew; Aday, D; Cope, W; Kullman, Seth; Rice, James; Kwak, Thomas; Law, Mac
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, ecotoxicology, endocrine disrupting compound, estrogenicity, geographic information system prediction, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM-01091, Oconaluftee River, SER, Southeast Region, Surface Water
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Toxics