Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

29 Aug 2023

UP Diliman

Adjusting the rice cropping calendar can improve the production and income of rice farmers

The study assessed the impact of an adjusted cropping calendar on the welfare of rice farming households in the  Mekong...

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15 Aug 2023

UP System

Study reports the first cases of yaws, a chronic and highly contagious skin and bone infection, among the Aetas of Quezon

Yaws is a chronic, highly contagious skin and bone infection caused by a bacteria, Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, usually affecting...

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09 Aug 2023

UP Los Baños

Villages with a large population of women, older persons and agricultural households are most exposed to drought risk

Islands are highly vulnerable to natural disasters and extreme weather events due to their physical size, remoteness, and limited resources....

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04 Aug 2023

UP System

Continuing ignition practices have transformed Tau-Buhid Indigenous lands into “territories of fire”

The article challenges the assumption that land tenure is contingent on acquiring a land title. It argues that for Indigenous...

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02 Aug 2023

UP Los Baños

Occupational therapists can be tapped to design age-friendly cities and communities

Urban planning for age-friendly environments is an important issue, and occupational therapists and occupational scientists could contribute to planning such...

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31 Jul 2023

UP Manila

Injuries suffered by workers on the job such as from falls and contact with sharp objects had been fatal

Although Occupational Health and Safety has been introduced as early as 1971, the protection of workers remained insufficient globally as...

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27 Jul 2023

UP Cebu

Human population growth threatens the largest and only protected key biodiversity area in Cebu Island

The continuing pressure on the natural environment exerted by human activities such as land conversion has been threatening to drive...

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25 Jul 2023

UP Diliman

The seaweed Saccharina japonica, an important aquaculture crop, shows increased photosynthetic activity under blue light

Saccharina japonica kelps grow naturally in the subtidal zone up to more than 20 m, where blue light (400–500 nm) is...

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21 Jul 2023

UP Los Baños

Teachers are influenced by their own beliefs in how they promote scientific argumentation in class

This qualitative multiple-case study discusses the importance of investigating the alignment of four biology teachers’ beliefs and practices when teaching...

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20 Jul 2023

UP Mindanao

Future solid waste management system in Davao City should prioritize plastic waste treatment

To reduce adverse environmental impact, municipal solid waste management (MSWM) practices in developed countries are adopted in developing countries without...

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19 Jul 2023

UP Los Baños

Pesticide residues were found in commonly consumed vegetables and those labeled “organic”

Pesticide residues on vegetables pose food safety concerns. In this study, an assay called the Rapid Bioassay for Pesticide Residues...

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19 Jul 2023

UP Diliman

Surface constraint approach optimizes the design and trajectory of solar sails that are constrained to move on surfaces

Solar sailing is a propulsion technology that uses the solar radiation pressure of the sun as a source for thrust....

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Research

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are environmental contaminants of emerging concern due to their possible health effects on humans and aquatic organisms. Fifteen sampling sites in Marikina River, Pasig River, Angat River, and Pampanga River were studied to determine the occurrence of EDCs. The hormone estrone and the plasticizer bisphenol A were detected in the rivers. The alkylphenols nonylphenol and octylphenol were also detected. Generally, higher concentrations of these EDCs were found in Marikina River and Pasig River in Metro Manila than in Angat River and Pampanga River in the nearby provinces. The EDC contamination in the rivers is attributed to discharge of domestic wastewater and industrial effluents. The concentrations of EDCs in the rivers in Mega Manila are lower than those reported in India but higher than in other Asian countries. It is necessary to monitor contamination in these rivers as EDCs may be carried through the rivers and therefore impact the water quality of receiving waters like Manila Bay. The detection of these EDCs in environmental waters in the Philippines is necessary for the formulation of guidelines and policies that will limit their release to the environment.

This research is the first to report the presence of EDCs in major rivers in Mega Manila. Included in the study are economically important water bodies in the region.  The determination of the environmental concentrations of EDCs in the rivers is important to effect precautionary measures such as creating guidelines and policies that will limit release of the contaminants in environmental waters. There are limited studies on contaminants of emerging concern in lakes and rivers of the Philippines. Hence, the findings of this research will contribute to scientific knowledge on the current status of contamination.

Authors: Katrina Marie Sta. Ana, Kate Coleen Galera and Maria Pythias Espino (Institute of Chemistry, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman)

Read the full paper: https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.5778