International Journal of Environmental Science and Development

Abstract—Among the compounds implicated as Environmental Endocrine Disruptors (EEDs), the most potent to alter the normal functions of the endocrine systems of organisms and humans are the natural and synthetic oestrogen. They are hydrophobic and ubiquitous and remain in the final effluents for the vast majority of sewage treatment plant. Land application of animal manures and sewage sludge as fertilizers has been reported to increase the amount of hormones in soil. However, the information on the factor that influences the occurrence of these compounds in this environmental compartment is limited. This study investigates the sorption affinity of these oestrogens on soils by determining its soil-water partition coefficient (Kd), sorption coefficient normalised to organic carbon (Koc) and octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow). In this study, different percentage of organic carbon was used. The results obtained shows that the Kow is a good predictor of sorption among contaminants as the affinity of oestrogens in soils is strongly dependent to their Kow values. This study also shows that the solid-water partition coefficient (Kd) of all oestrogens have good correlation to the organic carbon content. The calculated sorption coefficient normalised to organic carbon (Koc) indicate a strong association of all oestrogens with organic carbon. Therefore it is concluded that the organic carbon is pertinent to the sorption of oestrogens in soils.

Index Terms—Octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow), solid-water partition coefficient (Kd), sorption coefficient normalised to organic carbon (Koc), organic carbon, sorption affinity.

E. A. Aziz and N. A. Zainodin are with the University Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia (e-mail: edriyana@ump.edu.my, nurulain@yahoo.com.my).
W. A. Wan Omar was with University Malaysia Pahang. She is now with Mara Polythecnic College University, Kuantan, Pahang Malaysia (e-mail: wan atikah@yahoo.com.my).
Mir Sujaul Islam was with National University of Malaysia (UKM). He is now with University Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia (e-mail: mirsujaulislam@ump.edu.my).

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Cite: E. A. Aziz, W. A. Wan Omar, N. A. Zainodin, and Mir Sujaul Islam, "The Role of Organic Carbon in Natural and Synthetic Oestrogens Sorption onto Soils," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development vol. 7, no. 7, pp. 520-524, 2016.