Steroidal estrogens, either naturally occurring in the human body, or produced synthetically, belong to a group of worldwide consumed substances with pharmaceutical and veterinary uses. They commonly occur in aquatic ecosystems as a result of estrogen added to livestock feeding or discharge from wastewater treatment plants after human exposure to COCs or treatments of menopause.
The profile of E4 is unique and safer with a different potency than the synthetic estrogen Ethinylestradiol (EE2) present in 97% of COCs. EE2 is a synthetic estrogen, designed to be resistant to degradation and inactivation. It was intended to have comparable biological activities as E2, but more persistent due to its stability in the human body. Because of these properties, EE2 persists longer and accumulates more in the environment than natural estrogens.
Steroidal estrogens present in environmental waters may interact with the functioning of the endocrine system. In situations where exposure is unwanted or unintentional, they may be considered as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that lead to epigenetic and transgenerational effects. EE2 is considered to be a strong environmental endocrine disruptor which accumulates in living organisms impacting ecosystems. It is found in over 97 % of COCs. Over 700 kg1 of EE2 are discharged every year in the waters based solely from birth pill control intakes. EE2 can disrupt sexual differentiation and alter adult behaviours in various aquatic species.
Today, there is a growing concern related to the impact of endocrine disruptors in the environment. Policies are being developed to restore and maintain natural functions of ground and surface waters. On
Professor Patrick Kestemont, President of the Research Institute Live, Earth & Environment (ILEE) of the
EcoToxicity and environmental fate of Steroidal Estrogens
Environmental fate and ecotoxicity testing was carried out by Mithra on E4 in the context of its application for use as a pharmaceutical agent. This testing revealed a favorable environmental profile compared to the other estrogens (natural or synthetic) currently on the market.
Environmental Toxicity of Steroidal Estrogens
Extensive testing in various fish species revealed adverse effects of the natural estrogens (E1, E2) and of the synthetic EE2 occurring at levels as low as 1 ng/L. These effects include reduced egg production, reduced testicular growth, delayed maturation, development of ova-testes in males and development of the populations with skewed female to male ratios (i.e. feminization).
E4 on the other hand had no such adverse effects in a study covering the life span of a representative test species up to 32,000 ng/L. In addition, only 2.5% of ingested E4 is released in the urine as native biologically active E4 and about 70 % as minimally active metabolites of E4 (with an Estrogenic activity 500-1000 fold lower than E4), the amount of biologically active E4 released in the wastewaters after human use is expected to be minimal and considerably lower than those tested in the study conducted by Mithra.
Fate of Steroid estrogens in the environment
Environmental concentrations of E4 in the aquatic environment as low as 10 ng/L are predicted based on the proposed use recommendations, which further demonstrates E4 significant environmentally friendly profile.
The study also indicates that E4 does not accumulate in living organisms and is likely to dissipate rapidly from water and sediment in contrast to EE2. EE2 concentrations of 1ng/L, exceeding those causing unwanted effects in various aquatic species, are commonly found in surface and ground waters. In contrast, E4 levels in the environment from its currently proposed use are calculated to be well below levels showing effects in fish.
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