17-β-Estradiol: Significant reduction of its toxicity in water treated by photocatalysis

The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of photocatalysis by TiO2 on the removal of 17-beta-estradiol (E2) (at environmentally relevant concentrations) and the toxicity caused by this emerging pollutant. After 60 min of TiO2/UV treatment at pilot scale (14 L), E2 was removed from water approximately 85%. The toxicity was established by using Cyprinus carpio as bioindicator organism and oxidative stress biomarkers (OSB): [lipid peroxidation level (LPX), hydroperoxide content (HPC) and protein carbonyl content (PCC)] and enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)]. It was found that the photocatalytic treatment led to significantly reduce OSB in approximately 85-95%. Thus, it can be concluded that heterogeneous photocatalysis by TiO2 is an efficient process to eliminate the toxicity caused by E2 and thus to remediate water polluted with this molecule. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.