Academic Journal Vol. 11(2), pp. 122-131
This study aimed to assess the extent of pollution of aquatic ecosystems by endocrine disrupting
estrogens particularly the ethinylestradiol (EE2), estrone (E2) and estradiol (E1). The study was carried
out in Morogoro urban and peri-urban areas. The main sources of fresh water for domestic uses, fishing
and agricultural activities in the study areas including the Mindu dam catchment area, Ngerengere and
Morogoro Rivers were assessed. The endocrine disrupting estrogens in water samples were identified
and quantified using competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. The recovery of
estrogens in this study ranged from 65 to 90.22%, the range which is within the acceptable level. The
levels of estrogens in Ngerengere River ranged from non-detectable levels to 0.68, 0.03 to 8.42 and 0.05
to 16.97 ng/L for EE2, E2 and E1, respectively. At Mindu Dam the levels ranged from 0.07 to 0.3 ng/L,
0.41 to 2.1 ng/L and 2.6 to 6.5 ng/L for EE2, E2 and E1 respectively. Furthermore, for Morogoro River the
levels ranged from undetected to 0.92, 0.34 to 9.53 and 0.17 to 11.49 ng/L for EE2, E2 and E1
respectively. Mean concentrations in control samples and those in upstream and midstream of the
rivers were comparable (p > 0.05). But the mean concentrations in downstream portions were
significantly higher than those in control samples (p < 0.05). These concentrations however, were below
those reported in other studies to cause harmful health effects. Hence, the extent of pollution was not
significant enough to cause adverse health effects to aquatic organisms and human.