Abstract
In recent years, there has been a rise in observed intersex aquatic species along with a rise of reproductive issues in humans. This has been linked to the endocrine disrupting properties of over 200 chemicals that have estrogenic activity and persist in aquatic environments. The focus of our research is the estrogens that are used in hormonal birth control as ovulation inhibitors. Between 2015-2017, 14% of US women aged 15-49 were using hormonal birth control. According to a study published in 2002, three estrogens that are used in hormonal birth controls as ovulation inhibitors, 17α-ethynyl estradiol, mestranol, and 19-norethisterone, occur in an average of 12.8% frequency in US streams. This frequency is caused by the inability of wastewater treatment plants to fully remove pharmaceuticals before they reach surface water. With an increasing abundance of the population utilizing ovulation inhibitors, preventing persistence in the environment is crucial. To ensure full removal of pharmaceutical compounds from wastewater, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Ultraviolet Visible Spectroscopy was utilized. HPLC-UV Vis methodology was utilized using acetonitrile and water as solvents in an 80:20 ratio within the pumps to obtain desirable peak separation with each estrogen at wavelengths of 239 and 280nm for maximum absorbance. To ionize each estrogen for mass spectrometry analysis using HPLC-MS, 5mM sodium acetate was added to the aqueous mobile phase and a concentration curve was created. The HPLC method was then used in bleach trials using 10ppm sodium hypochlorite solution mimicking the chloride concentration of household toilet bleach tablets over an average time of 20 minutes. The HPLC method with UV detection showed clear signs of estrogen degradation. Preliminary work with a newly acquired instrument is currently underway to determine the identity of the degradation products through HPLC-MS. It is hoped that the bleach will prove to be an easy and effective way for the average consumer to do their part and prevent estrogens from entering the environment.
College
College of Science & Engineering
Department
Chemistry
Campus
Winona
First Advisor/Mentor
Jeanne Franz
Start Date
4-19-2023 10:00 AM
End Date
4-19-2023 11:00 AM
Presentation Type
Poster Session
Format of Presentation or Performance
In-Person
Session
1b=10am-11am
Poster Number
23
Included in
Degradation of Ovulation Inhibitor Estrogens Using HPLC Chromatography
In recent years, there has been a rise in observed intersex aquatic species along with a rise of reproductive issues in humans. This has been linked to the endocrine disrupting properties of over 200 chemicals that have estrogenic activity and persist in aquatic environments. The focus of our research is the estrogens that are used in hormonal birth control as ovulation inhibitors. Between 2015-2017, 14% of US women aged 15-49 were using hormonal birth control. According to a study published in 2002, three estrogens that are used in hormonal birth controls as ovulation inhibitors, 17α-ethynyl estradiol, mestranol, and 19-norethisterone, occur in an average of 12.8% frequency in US streams. This frequency is caused by the inability of wastewater treatment plants to fully remove pharmaceuticals before they reach surface water. With an increasing abundance of the population utilizing ovulation inhibitors, preventing persistence in the environment is crucial. To ensure full removal of pharmaceutical compounds from wastewater, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Ultraviolet Visible Spectroscopy was utilized. HPLC-UV Vis methodology was utilized using acetonitrile and water as solvents in an 80:20 ratio within the pumps to obtain desirable peak separation with each estrogen at wavelengths of 239 and 280nm for maximum absorbance. To ionize each estrogen for mass spectrometry analysis using HPLC-MS, 5mM sodium acetate was added to the aqueous mobile phase and a concentration curve was created. The HPLC method was then used in bleach trials using 10ppm sodium hypochlorite solution mimicking the chloride concentration of household toilet bleach tablets over an average time of 20 minutes. The HPLC method with UV detection showed clear signs of estrogen degradation. Preliminary work with a newly acquired instrument is currently underway to determine the identity of the degradation products through HPLC-MS. It is hoped that the bleach will prove to be an easy and effective way for the average consumer to do their part and prevent estrogens from entering the environment.
