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Estrogenic hormones are steroids produced naturally by humans and animals or synthesized for application as drugs. When excreted and discharged into the environment, they show biological activity in concentrations above 1 ng L-1. Nevertheless, processes such as biodegradation, photolysis and absorption contribute to partial removal of the hormones leaching into the water sources. There is evidence that human exposure to estrogenic hormones contributes to reduction in male fertility and an increased incidence of breast cancer. For the ecological biota, the consequences are the feminization of male fish and a reduction in plant growth. While the efficiency of conventional water treatments has not been clarified, advanced treatments demonstrate removal efficiencies of over 90%. Sewage treatment shows different efficiencies for the removal of these substances |
