Distribution, exposure pathways, sources and toxicity of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates in the environment

Authors

  • TB Chokwe Scientific Services, Rand Water, PO Box 3526, Vereeniging, 1930, South Africa
  • JO Okonkwo Scientific Services, Rand Water, PO Box 3526, Vereeniging, 1930, South Africa
  • LL Sibali Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v43i4.01

Keywords:

nonylphenols, nonylphenol ethoxylates, concentrations, exposure pathway, sources, toxicity

Abstract

Alkylphenols (APs) are ultimate breakdown products of alkylphenol polyethoxylate (APEs) that are used in cleaning and industrial processes. The most commonly used APEs in the market are the nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) and octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEs). As a result of their widespread use and their lipophilic nature, these compounds are ubiquitous in the environment and are currently of concern because of their toxicity, oestrogenic properties and widespread contamination. This review summarizes the concentrations of NPE and NP in different environmental media. The sources of NPE in the environment and toxicity are reviewed. Their distribution patterns in the environment as well as exposure pathways are discussed with a view to provide better understanding of these emerging environmental contaminants. It is envisaged that this review will heighten the importance of identifying emerging issues and data gaps, and generate a future research agenda on APEs.

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Published

2017-10-31

Issue

Vol. 43 No. 4 October (2017): Water SA

Section

Review

License

Copyright (c) 2017 TB Chokwe, JO Okonkwo, LL Sibali, LL Sibali

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Creative Commons License

The content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.  Users are permitted to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal under the terms of this Licence, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author, provided the source is attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors.

How to Cite

TB Chokwe, JO Okonkwo and LL Sibali (2017) “Distribution, exposure pathways, sources and toxicity of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates in the environment”, Water SA, 43(4 October). doi:10.4314/wsa.v43i4.01.