Pollution characteristics and mixture risk prediction of phenolic environmental estrogens in rivers of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration, China

Phenolic environmental estrogens (PEEs) are ubiquitous in most rivers worldwide and may cause potential endocrine-disrupting effects in aquatic organisms. Three typical PEEs (bisphenol A, BPA; 4- tert -octylphenol,4- t -OP; and nonylphenol, NP) were investigated in the rivers of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration, which is the most urbanized and industrialized area in North China. The target PEEs were detected in 100% of river water samples, and the concentrations ranged from 23 to 255 ng L −1 . The concentrations of NP in most river sections were higher than those of BPA and 4- t -OP. The spatiotemporal variations in PEEs indicated that both domestic and industrial wastewater were main sources of PEEs in river water. In addition, rainfall runoff might be an important source of PEEs in the receiving waters, especially in the wet season. The ecotoxicological risk assessment of individual PEE revealed a moderate to high risk for aquatic organisms at most sampling sites. The mixture risk prediction based on the concentration addition method indicated a potential cumulative risk of PEEs in the study area, highlighting the importance of mixture risk assessment in the aquatic environment. • The target phenolic environmental estrogens (PEEs) were ubiquitous in the rivers. • Untreated domestic and industrial wastewater were major contributors of PEEs. • Moderate to high ecological risks of PEEs were revealed. • Cumulative mixture risks were predicted based on concentration addition.