Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #119395

Stephannie Thacker, BS¹, Simrat Singh, MS², Piero Gardinali, PhD¹, Quentin Felty, PhD¹, and Deodutta Roy, PhD³. (1) Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, HLS-II 591, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, 305-348-1694, sthac001@fiu.edu, (2) Department of Chemistry, FIU, 11200 SW 8th Street, CP 348, Miami, FL 33199, (3) Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, HLSII 595, 11200 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199

Elevated levels of estrogens are associated with increased incidence of birth defects and cancers. Estrogens are found in sources of drinking water. Our objective is to assess the potential exposure to children less than age two to natural and medicinal estrogens and to determine the potential non-cancer hazard. We used the EPA method to determine RfD, exposure, margin of exposure (MOE), and hazard quotient (HQ). An amount of 5 x 10-4mg/kg body weight of ethinyl estradiol is present in some of the birth control pills, and it can be received by expectant mothers who are unaware of pregnancy status for 28 days or up to 112 days if skipping sugar pills. This was considered the LOAEL. Our calculated RfD is 1.82 x 10-5 mg/kg. The level of estrone ranged from 0.19 to 2.43 ng/L in Miami surface waters. Other estrogenic compounds have been detected (0.5-10 ng/L) in surface waters globally. The daily water intake of estrone is 2.2 ng/L in children less than age two. Subpopulations whose source of drinking water is wells and river waters are likely to be exposed to this amount. The MOE is 25. The HQ is 1.09; however this HQ may be an underestimate because additional intake of other estrogens and other routes of exposure were not taken into account. Since fetuses and children are highly sensitive to estrogens, it is critical to ensure by biomonitoring that the residues of these estrogenic compounds are not present in drinking water and its sources.

Learning Objectives:

• Raise the awareness of the potential hazards to children from exposure to estrogenic compounds in drinking water
• Provides the value of safe levels of exposure and non-cancer hazard

Keywords: Endocrine, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.