Author(s)

D. Balabanič, D. Hermosilla, A. Blanco, N. Merayo & A. Krivograd Klemenčič

Abstract

An endocrine disrupter is an exogenous agent that interferes with the synthesis, binding, secretion, transport, action or elimination of natural hormones in the body that are responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis, reproduction, development, and behaviour. Some of them are suspected of causing abnormalities in sperm and increasing hormone-related cancers in humans. Studies have also been published on the estrogen-like responses of endocrine disrupters in wildlife, such as birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish. Endocrine disrupters include a wide variety of pollutants such as alkylphenols, bisphenol A, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, heavy metals, and natural or synthetic hormones. They may be released into the environment in different ways. One of the most important sources of endocrine disrupters are industrial waste waters. The conventional waste water treatment processes are not specifically designed to remove traces of dangerous organic contaminants (except for heavy metals) so the latter are consequently consumed by aquatic organisms and through them may also enter human food chain. In the presented research the following treatments for removing of organic endocrine disrupting

Keywords

endocrine disrupting compounds, anaerobic treatment, aerobic treatment, membrane filtration, advanced oxidation processes, waste water treatment