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CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS AS A SOURCE OF EDCS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT
Citation:
MILLS, M. A., STEVE HUTCHINS, J. M. LAZORCHAK, AND G. ANKLEY. CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS AS A SOURCE OF EDCS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. To be Presented at 2005 EPA Science Forum, Washington, DC, May 16 - 18, 2005.
Impact/Purpose:
Three divisions (NRMRL, NHEERL, and NERL) within EPA are developing analytical and biological tools to assess the extent, exposure and effects of estrogens in ground and surface waters. NRMRL has been developing GC/MS/MS and LC/MS/MS protocols for analyzing swine lagoon effluent and ground water for estrogens and estrogen conjugates at environmentally relevant levels (ng/L). NRMRL has also been applying these methods to determine whether swine CAFOs contribute estrogens to ground and surface waters at land application sites and downstream of CAFO facilities.
Description:
In the United States, there is an estimated 376,000 animal feed operations, generating approximately 128 billion pounds of waste each year. A facility is an animal feed operation (AFO) if animals are stabled/confined, or fed/maintained, for 45 days or more within any 12-month period, and the facility does not produce any crops, vegetation, or forage growth. Concentrated animal feed operations (CAFOs) are the largest of these and are regulated under the Clean Water Act. CAFOs are generally considered to be operations with more than 1000 animal units (AU). EDCs are known to be used or naturally produced by the 3 major categories of CAFOs. Cattle CAFOs use growth hormones, estrogens (estradiol, estradiol benzoate) and androgens (trenbolone acetate, testosterone propionate). Poultry CAFOs can contain natural hormones, such as estradiol, estrone, and testosterone. Swine contain no added growth hormones but produce natural hormones. NRMRL, NHEERL and NERL have been developing analytical and biological tools to assess the extent, exposure and effects of these estrogens in ground and surface waters. NHEERL has developed an analytical chemistry method for 17-α and 17β-trenbolone in cattle feedlot discharge and in river water, and has measured in vitro androgenic activity of the discharge using CV-1 cells that had been transiently cotransfected with human androgen receptor and reporter gene constructs. NERL has applied a vitellogenin gene expression assay to trenbolone in cattle CAFO discharges. NRMRL has been working on developing GC/MS/MS and LC/MS/MS protocols for analyzing swine lagoon effluent and ground water for estrogens and estrogen conjugates at environmentally relevant levels (ng/L). NRMRL has been applying these methods to determine whether swine CAFOs contribute estrogens to ground and surface waters at land application sites and downstream of CAFO facilities. In addition, NERL is collaborating with USGS and the State of West Virginia to look at potential linkages of poultry wastes to high incidences of OVA-testis in male small mouth bass. Currently, ORD is developing analytical and biological approaches to measure and detect EDCs in ground and surface waters and assess the potential exposures to aquatic life. With these approaches, various field sites will be selected where these tools can be used to further assess the potential exposure and effects of EDCs from CAFOs on ground water and surface water communities. This information will then be provided to the Regions and program offices for decisions on best management practices for controlling EDCs.