Occurrence, ecological risk and estrogenic effect of 19 bisphenol analogues in the surface water used for drinking water in Shanghai, China

Bisphenol analogues (BPs), a prominent group of endocrine-disrupting compounds, are widely used in the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics, leading to their inevitable release into aquatic environments. However, limited data exists on the occurrence of BPs in drinking water sources and upstream rivers. In this study, we developed and validated a solid-phase extraction method coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the trace-level detection and simultaneous quantification of 19 BPs in surface water. Seventeen BPs were detected in the Taipu River with concentrations ranging from nondetectable to 38.2 ng L-1 and industrial discharges may be a primary source of BPs contamination. For the first time, the presence of bisphenol C-dichloride (BPC-di) and tetrachlorobisphenol A in surface water was reported, with mean concentrations of 11.5 ng L-1 and 2.0 ng L-1, respectively. In drinking source water, 15 BPs were found, with bisphenol A, bisphenol B, and BPC-di being the most abundant ones. Additionally, a comprehensive toxicity assessment was performed to evaluate the ecological risks associated with these BPs. Although risk quotient values indicated negligible ecological risk for these BPs, estrogen equivalence values suggested potential estrogenic risks in the river. This study provides new insights into the occurrence, ecological risks, and estrogenic effects of BPs in source water and its upstream river systems.