This article focuses on solid samples and reviews the main findings so far concerning the source, the presence and the fate of estrogens and progestogens in the aquatic environment. We discuss the very few existing analytical methods for determination of estrogens and progestogens in environmental matrices (soils, sediments and sludge). Estrogens are continuously released in the aquatic environment mainly because treatment plants are unsuccessful in removing them. Studies show that estrogens and progestogens are easily distributed in the environment and are likely to accumulate in river sediments and in soils. However, it is not yet clear whether sorption or biodegradation processes play a major role in their elimination from the aquatic environment.

This work was supported by the Energy, Environmental and Sustainable Development Program (Project ARTDEMO EVK1-CT2002-00114), and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (Projects BQU2002-10903-E and PPQ2001-1805-CO3-01).

9 pages, 4 tables.

Peer reviewed