Skip to main content
Review | Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology | Volume 3 - Issue 1 - 2025 | 40-50 | https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v3i1.630
© 2025 by the author(s), and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License

Sources, Fate, and Transport of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Urban Soils of Vietnam: Challenges for Sustainable Urban Development

Author(s): Upeksha Gayangani Jayasekara 1 ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8201-0618 , Kadupitige Shashikala Dilrukshi Premarathna 2 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4147-9348 , Razman Maznan Salim 3 , Nguyen Thi Thanh Thao 4 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3979-1666 , Ferdaus Mohd Altaf Hossai 5 , 6 , ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4000-616X , Rubiyatno 7 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6877-5150 , Ocean Thakali 8 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6649-2322 , Corry Aina 9 , 10 , ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9438-5406 , Ni Putu Sri Wahyuningsih 9 , 10 , ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0159-2509 , Nii Amarquaye Commey 7 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9139-0379
Author(s) information:
1 Environmental Engineering Program, Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Curtin University Malaysia
2 Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia
3 Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
4 Institute of Environmental Science, Engineering and Management, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
5 Department of Dairy Science, Faculty of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh
6 Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh
7 Graduate Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan
8 Center for research excellence in wastewater-based epidemiology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
9 Interdisciplinary Centre for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu 400-8511, Yamanashi, Japan
10 Integrated Graduate School of Medicine, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu 400-8511, Yamanashi, Japan

Corresponding author

Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology

Volume 3 - Issue 1 - 2025

 About the journal
Submit your article

The rapid growth of the human population in recent years significantly accelerated urbanization across ASEAN countries. Among them, Vietnam emerged as one of the fastest-developing nations, undergoing swift industrial expansion and urban development. While this progress brought economic benefits, it also posed serious environmental challenges, most notably, the increasing presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the natural environment. These harmful pollutants, often derived from industrial processes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and domestic waste, infiltrated ecosystems through air, water, and particularly soil. The core problem addressed in this study was the accumulation of EDCs in urban soils, which served as major reservoirs and posed long-term risks to both ecological systems and public health. Studies linked EDC exposure to hormonal imbalances, reproductive disorders, developmental issues, and even certain cancers in humans and animals. In addition, EDCs disrupted soil biodiversity, impaired microbial communities, and threatened species dependent on soil ecosystems. The accumulation of these compounds in Vietnam’s urban soil was especially concerning due to the country’s rapid industrialization and weak environmental regulations. This study aimed to provide a focused overview of the occurrence, sources, and impacts of EDCs in Vietnam’s urban soils and to explore potential mitigation strategies suited to the nation’s socio-industrial context. Key findings highlighted the role of urban soil as a critical sink for persistent pollutants, the urgent need for regulatory enforcement, and the importance of integrated waste management. In conclusion, Vietnam’s continued development must be accompanied by proactive environmental strategies to reduce EDC contamination and safeguard ecosystem health. Future research should prioritize site-specific monitoring, the development of sustainable remediation technologies, and the evaluation of regulatory frameworks to better manage EDC risks.

Read Full-Text
Previous article
Next article

World Population Prospects 2024. (accessed on 14 February 2025) Available online: https://population.un.org/wpp/.

Population Growth. Our World in Data. (accessed on 14 February 2025) Available online: https://ourworldindata.org/population-growth.

O’Sullivan, J.N. (2023). Demographic Delusions: World Population Growth Is Exceeding Most Projections and Jeopardising Scenarios for Sustainable Futures. World, 4, 545-568. https://doi.org/10.3390/world4030034.

Vietnam - Place Explorer - Data Commons. (accessed on 14 February 2025) Available online: https://datacommons.org/place/country/VNM.

Kavlock, R.J. (1999). Overview of endocrine disruptor research activity in the United States. Chemosphere, 39(8), 1227–1236. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0045-6535(99)00190-3.

Mol, H.G.J.; Sunarto, S.; Steijger, O.M. (2000). Determination of endocrine disruptors in water after derivatization with N-methyl-N-(tert.-butyldimethyltrifluoroacetamide) using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. Journal of Chromatography A, 879(1), 97–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0021-9673(00)00124-2.

Daughton, C.G. (2004). Non-regulated water contaminants: emerging research. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 24, 711–732.

Vietnam Industrial Production: Trading Economics. Available online: https://tradingeconomics.com/vietnam/industrial-production.

Quynh, T.X.; Toan, V.D. (2019). EDCs in surface waters of the KimNguu River, Vietnam. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 103(5), 734–738. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-019-02710-1.

Tran-Lam, T.T.; Quan, T.C.; Bui, M.Q.; Dao, Y.H.; Le, G.T. (2024). Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in Vietnamese marine fish: Occurrence, distribution, and risk assessment. Science of the Total Environment, 908, 168305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168305.

Sarmah, A.K.; Northcott, G.L.; Leusch, F.D.L.; Tremblay, L.A. (2006). A survey of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in municipal sewage and animal waste effluents in the Waikato region of New Zealand. Science of the Total Environment, 355(1–3), 135–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.02.027.

Servos, M.R.; Bennie, D.T.; Burnison, B.K.; Jurkovic, A.; McInnis, R.; Neheli, T.; et al. (2005). Distribution of estrogens, 17β-estradiol and estrone, in Canadian municipal wastewater treatment plants. Science of the Total Environment, 336(1–3), 155–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.05.025.

Nichols, D.J.; Daniel, T.C.; Moore, P.A. Jr.; Edwards, D.R.; Pote, P.H. (1997). Runoff of estrogen hormone 17β-estradiol from poultry litter applied to pasture. Journal of Environmental Quality, 26, 1002–1006. http://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1997.00472425002600040011x.

Ternes, T.A.; Stumpf, M.; Mueller, J.; Haberer, K.; Wilken, R.D.; Servos, M. (1999). Behavior and occurrence of estrogens in municipal sewage treatment plants — I. Investigations in Germany, Canada and Brazil. Science of the Total Environment, 225, 81–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(98)00334-9.

Peterson, E.W.; Davis, R.K.; Orndorff, H.A. (2000). 17β-Estradiol as an indicator of animal waste contamination in mantled karst aquifers. Journal of Environmental Quality, 29, 826–834. http://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2000.00472425002900030019x.

Shore, L.S.; Correll, D.L.; Chakraborty, P.K. (1995). Relationship of fertilization with chicken manure and concentrations of estrogens in small streams. In Animal Waste and the Land-Water Interface, Steele, K.F., Ed.; Lewis Publishers: Boca Raton, USA, pp. 155–162.

Rudel, R.A.; Perovich, L.J. (2009). Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in indoor and outdoor air. Atmospheric Environment, 43(1), 170–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2008.09.025.

Magueresse-Battistoni, L.B.; Labaronne, E.; Vidal, H.; Naville, D. (2017). Endocrine disrupting chemicals in mixture and obesity, diabetes and related metabolic disorders. World Journal of Biological Chemistry, 8(2), 108. https://doi.org/10.4331/wjbc.v8.i2.108.

Nicolopoulou-Stamati, P.; Hens, L.; Sasco, A.J. (2015). Cosmetics as endocrine disruptors: Are they a health risk? Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, 16(4), 373–383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-016-9329-4.

Benjamin, S.; Masai, E.; Kamimura, N.; Takahashi, K.; Robin, C.; Panichikkal, A.; Faisal, A. (2017). Phthalates impact human health: epidemiological evidence and plausible mechanism of action. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 340, 360–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.06.036.

Hejmej, A.; Kotula-Balak, M.; Bilinski, B. (2011). Antiandrogenic and estrogenic compounds: Effect on development and function of male reproductive system. InTech EBooks. https://doi.org/10.5772/28538.

Maffini, M.V.; Trasande, L.; Neltner, T.G. (2016). Perchlorate and diet: human exposures, risks, and mitigation strategies. Current Environmental Health Reports, 3(2), 107–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-016-0090-3.

Wee, S.Y.; Aris, A.Z. (2019). Occurrence and public-perceived risk of endocrine disrupting compounds in drinking water. Clean Water, 2(1), 4. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-018-0029-3.

Pironti, C.; Ricciardi, M.; Proto, A.; Bianco, P.M.; Montano, L.; Motta, O. (2021). Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds: An Overview on Their Occurrence in the Aquatic Environment and Human Exposure. Water, 13, 1347. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13101347.

Vu, D.T.; To, X.Q.; Nguyen, T.L.H. (2020). Endocrine disrupting compounds in sediment from KimNguu River, Northern area of Vietnam: a comprehensive assessment of seasonal variation, accumulation pattern and ecological risk. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 42, 647–659. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00399-z.

Toan, V.D.; Quy, N.P. (2015). Residue of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediment from CauBay River and their impact on agricultural soil, human health risk in KieuKy area, Vietnam. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 95(2), 177–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-015-1581-x.

Rathnayaka, K.; Malano, H.; Arora, M. (2016). Assessment of Sustainability of Urban Water Supply and Demand Management Options: A Comprehensive Approach. Water, 8, 595. https://doi.org/10.3390/w8120595.

McKinlay, R.; Plant, J.A.; Bell, J.N.B.; Voulvoulis, N. (2008). Calculating human exposure to endocrine-disrupting pesticides via agricultural and non-agricultural exposure routes. Science of the Total Environment, 398(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.02.056.

Kortenkamp, A. (2007). Ten years of mixing cocktails: a review of combination effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(Suppl 1), 98–105. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9357.

Błażej, K.; Natalia, S.; Katarzyna, O.; Zofia, M.; Jacek, N. (2015). Endocrine disrupting compounds – problems and challenges. InTech, 7, 169–198. http://doi.org/10.5772/60410.

Saala, F.S.; Welshons, W.V. (2006). Large effects from small exposures. II. The importance of positive controls in low-dose research on bisphenol A. Environmental Research, 100, 50–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2005.09.001.

Laura, L.; Viola, T.; Lucia, M.; Natascia, B.; Barbara, P.; Licia, L.; Alberto, B.; Lorenzo, I. (2020). Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and their effects during female puberty: A review of current evidence. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21, 2078. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21062078.

Agent Orange still linked to hormone imbalances in babies in Vietnam. (accessed on 14 February 2025) Available online: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170926091427.htm.

Leung, Y.-K. (2023). A Silent Threat: Exploring the Impact of Endocrine Disruption on Human Health International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24, 9790. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24129790.

Bergman, Å.; Heindel, J.; Jobling, S.; Kidd, K.; Zoeller, R.T. (2012). State-of-the-science of endocrine disrupting chemicals, 2012. Toxicology Letters, 211, S3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2012.03.020.

State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. (accessed on 14 February 2025) Available online: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/state-of-the-science-of-endocrine-disrupting-chemicals.

Read Full-Text
About this article

SUBMITTED: 08 March 2025
ACCEPTED: 08 May 2025
PUBLISHED: 13 May 2025
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 61 days
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v3i1.630

Cite this article
Jayasekara , U. G. ., Premarathna, K. S. D. ., Salim, R. M., Thao, N. T. T. ., Hossai, F. M. A. ., Rubiyatno, Thakali, O. ., Aina, C. ., Wahyuningsih, N. P. S. ., & Commey, N. A. . (2025). Sources, Fate, and Transport of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Urban Soils of Vietnam: Challenges for Sustainable Urban Development. Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology, 3(1), 40–50. https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v3i1.630
Keywords
Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) Vietnam Urban soil health problem
Accessed
232
Citations
0
Share this article