Fate and levels of steroid oestrogens and androgens in waste stabilisation ponds: quantification by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The capacity for removing wastewater-borne endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) was investigated for two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) incorporating waste stabilisation ponds (WSPs) as the principal treatment technology. Samples were analysed for a number of steroidal oestrogens and androgens using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Removal efficiency for steroid androgens was high for both WWTPs (93–100%) but WSP treatment was observed to be less effective for removing steroid oestrogens, particularly oestriol. Refereed/Peer-reviewed