The environmental problem of emerging pollutants: possible impacts by sex hormones

Abstract

The increasing contamination of water resources has been worrying the scientific community regarding water quality, considering that it is one of the primary elements the continuation of life on the planet. The fragility of sanitation systems, coupled with population growth, has helped domestic sewage and industrial effluents to be discharged into surface waters. A class of pollutants has caught the attention of several authorities and researchers: Emerging Contaminants (EC) or Emerging Pollutants (PE) are substances found in very low concentrations in order of nanograms or picograms. From a methodological design of this problem, we used the deductive method and qualitative approach, as well as bibliographic research technique, where it can be seen that among the contaminants Endocrine Interferents (IE), has been highlighted due to its potential causing harm to human health and other animal species, which led the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to define as one of the 6 most important areas of research. Female sex hormones (HSF) are among the endocrine disruptors that deserve due attention. Female hormones or estrogens may be natural (produced by the animal organism) such as: 17ß-estradiol, estriol, estrone or synthetic (17a-ethinyl estradiol) produced for hormone replacement purposes or as contraceptive methods. Thus, this work aims to enlighten the academic community and society in general about the issues surrounding Emerging Pollutants, especially sex hormones.