Estrogenic　potency　of　water　samples　from　various　rivers　and　wastewater　treatment　plants　(WWTPs)　in　Shanghai　was　determined　to　assess　the　estrogenic　pollution　in　typical　Chinese　urban　regions.　While　the　estrogenic　activity,　calculated　as　estradiol　equivalents　(EEQs),　in　surface　water　was　found　to　be　2.48-41.9　ng/L,　it　was　47.7-80.1　ng/L　in　the　influents　from　WWTPs.　After　treatment　(removal　rate　of　62.3%-83.6%),　the　EEQ　level　in　effluents　was　7.82-24.8　ng/L,　which　was　within　the　range　of　the　corresponding　receiving　rivers.　Our　findings　suggest　that　WWTP　effluents　may　not　be　the　predominate　source　of　potential　aquatic　estrogenic　contamination　in　Shanghai.