The objective of the present research concerns the competitive photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) and adsorption of steroid estrogens (SEs) on titanium dioxide in presence of urea. The results showed the indifference of SEs towards the presence of urea in concentrations characteristic for the domestic sewage. The selective PCO of SEs appeared to be feasible in alkaline media, in which the PCO exhibited the highest efficiency. Ethanol used for hydrophobic SEs dissolution in water appeared to be interfering with the PCO. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.