Advances of Steroid Estrogens Pollution in Waters: A Systematic Review

The potential risks associated with steroid estrogens (SEs) on both water and human health are significant. Through the utilization of bibliometric analysis methods and visual network graph analysis, this study revealed several key findings: (1) There is a growing interest in research on SEs pollution in water, as evidenced by the increasing annual and cumulative number of publications. Scholars worldwide are particularly focused on studying the environmental behavior, toxicological effects, removal methods, and detection technologies related to SEs in water. (2) Upon entering the environmental medium, free estrogens (FEs) undergo processes such as adsorption, migration, transformation, and degradation. Conjugated estrogens (CEs) can serve as precursors to FEs under specific conditions, with interconversion between the two types of estrogens also observed. (3) The toxic effects of SEs on aquatic animals primarily manifest in reduced fertilized egg and offspring survival rates. In terms of plant growth, SEs exhibit stimulatory effects at low concentrations and inhibitory effects at high concentrations. Furthermore, SEs can impact human health by modulating the expression of genes essential for reproductive and immune functions through epigenetic mechanisms. (4) Currently, various pretreatment technologies for water samples are utilized, such as solid phase extraction, liquid–liquid extraction, and other methods. The removal methods for SEs can be categorized into physical, chemical, and biological techniques. Moving forward, it is crucial to focus on developing efficient and sensitive target sensors, as well as establishing more sensitive, convenient, and accurate detection technologies to support decision-making in managing, controlling, and restoring SEs pollution risks in water.

Graphical Abstract