ABSTRACT
for Oral Presentation
Certain non-ionic surfactants, more specifically aikylphenolethoxylates (APEs), have been shown to be estrogenic and toxic to aquatic organisms according to recent studies conducted primarily in Europe, Japan and Canada. Recent evidence that some APE breakdown products are estrogenic has intensified concern over their environmental and human health effects. APEs are nonionic surfactants made up of a branched chain ethylene oxide to produce an ethoxylate chain. The main alkylphenols used are nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP). Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) encompass about 80% of the world market, and octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEs) represent most of the rest. They have been used extensively for their effectiveness, economy and ease of handling and formulating for more than forty years. Most APEs enter the aquatic environment from wastewater treatment plant discharges. In the United States, industrial uses of APE encompass the largest category (55%). There are no U.S. regulatory actions to date for APEs. Therefore, more research on the fate and transport of APEs in the environment is essential. This paper will focus on attempts to characterize the occurrence of nonylphenol and its ethoxylates in wastewater treatment plants. Studies are currently underway to determine the presence of these compounds in local wastewater treatment plants. This is important as the state of New Jersey has a strong industrial base comprising of pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers, which are the major users and generators of APEs.
