Author(s): Zuhairah Hanafi; Caiping Feng; Wan Shoo Cheong; Ivy Lam
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Wastewater Recycled water SPE Bioassays Dioxin-like Estrogen
Abstract: The wastewater is a complex mixture containing biological and chemical markers of human activity, including pollutants like pharmaceuticals, personal care products, hormones and fertilizers. While source water monitoring has focused on detecting pathogens, pharmaceuticals, and nutrients, concerns about emerging contaminants and by-products from treatment processes (such as chlorination and ozonation) have grown, particularly regarding the safety of treated water. Despite extensive research, no standardized guidelines exist for many emerging contaminants such as halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons and hormonal compounds, which can pose risks to human health and ecosystems. As clean water demand increases, recycling wastewater has become essential for sustainable development. In response, in vitro bioassays have been developed to measure biological effects such as xenobiotic metabolism and receptor-mediated responses, critical aspects often missed by chemical analysis. This study aims to optimize solid-phase extraction (SPE) techniques for detecting dioxin-like and estrogenic compounds in water samples, offering a robust tool for assessing complex chemical mixtures. The results indicated that SPE setting in Method 5 achieved at least 50% recovery, while prefiltration of samples impacted TCDD recovery. Importantly, no dioxin-like or estrogenic compounds were detected in recycled water samples.
Year: 2025