Determination and risk assessment of steroidal estrogens in Liaodong Bay, China

A highly sensitive SPE-UPLC-MS/MS method was based on dansyl derivatization was developed to investigate the concentrations and distribution of steroidal estrogens in seawater in Liaodong Bay, China, and further assess their ecological risk to wild so-iuy mullet. Estrone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-estradiol, estriol and 17α-ethinylestradiol were detected in seawater samples with the average concentrations of 0.714±0.407, 0.089±0.077, 0.009±0.011, 0.008±0.008 and 0.001±0.003 ng/L, respectively. The total concentration of estrogens was higher in the sea area adjacent to Daliao River than adjacent to Shuangtaizi River, and was the lowest adjacent to Daling River and Xiaoling Rivers. The average of 17β-estradiol equivalent concentration (EEQ-E2β) in Liaodong Bay was 0.562±0.327 ng/L, and the probability of intersex caused by steroidal estrogens was approximately 0.83%, which was much lower than the incidence of intersex in wild so-iuy mullet. Therefore, further identification of causal chemicals is needed for effective environmental safety management of Liaodong Bay.