ABSTRACT
Alkylphenols (APs) and short-chain alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) containing 1, 2, and 3 ethoxylene units per molecule are known for their endocrine disrupting properties. However, despite bans and restrictions introduced by different countries (the European Union, Canada), APs and their ethoxylates are still widely used on a global scale. In the present chapter, the influence of these compounds on living organisms is presented, and different factors affecting endocrine disrupting properties are discussed, such as length and branching of the alkyl chain, as well as oxidization of both ethoxylene and alkyl chains of APEs molecules. Biodegradation of APs and APEs in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions is also presented, and studies on their bacterial and fungal degradation are discussed. Experiments on removal of these contaminants are described and their environmental fate is shown. Contamination of the environment is discussed separately for water and sediments.
