• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.248-255
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• 1999

Sewage sludge samples were extracted with dichlomethane by Soxhlet extraction. The extracts were analysed for the endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC), octylphenol(OP), nonylphenol (NP) and bis (2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DOP) using GC/MS-SIM. In industrial sewage sludge (sample Z-1) the concentration of NP and DOP were respectively $1168{\mu}g/g$ and $1172{\mu}g/g$ whereas in domestic sludge (sample Z-2) the concentration were respectively $10.8{\mu}g/g$ and $80{\mu}g/g$. OP was not detected in Z-2, but detected a small amount in Z-2 of the samples. Environmental EDC have been shown to affect the fertility of range of living organisms, including humans, and the high levels of NP and DOP in industrial sewage sludge could have serious implications for the reproductive health of humans particularly if the compounds entered the human food chain through water or the ingestion of vegetables or animal products.