Grantee Research Project Results
2010 Progress Report: Fate of Hormones in Waste from Concentrated Broiler Feeding Operations
EPA Grant Number: R833419Title: Fate of Hormones in Waste from Concentrated Broiler Feeding Operations
Investigators: Cabrera, Miguel L. , Fairchild, Brian D. , Kissel, David E. , Radcliffe, David E. , Hartel, Peter G. , Vencill, William K. , Endale, Dinku , Hassan, Sayed
Current Investigators: Cabrera, Miguel L. , Hassan, Sayed , Fairchild, Brian D. , Hartel, Peter G. , Kissel, David E. , Radcliffe, David E. , Vencill, William K. , Endale, Dinku
Institution: University of Georgia
Current Institution: University of Georgia , USDA
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2010 (Extended to June 30, 2012)
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 1, 2009 through June 30,2010
Project Amount: $695,620
RFA: Fate and Effects of Hormones in Waste from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOS) (2006) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Endocrine Disruptors , Human Health , Safer Chemicals
Objective:
a) determine concentrations of 17β-estradiol, estrone, and testosterone in different classes of broiler litter; b) evaluate the effect of stacking broiler litter on the dynamics of hormone concentrations; c) evaluate the transport and decomposition of radio-labeled hormones mixed with broiler litter and applied on the soil surface; and d) evaluate the effect of runoff occurring at different times after broiler litter application, as well as the effect of mechanical aeration, on the concentration of hormones in surface runoff from grassed plots.
Progress Summary:
Determine concentrations of 17β-estradiol, estrone, and testosterone in different classes of broiler litter.
Selected samples of broiler litter received by the Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratory are being analyzed for hormones. Approximately 264 samples have been collected and approximately 254 samples have been analyzed. Analysis of the data obtained so far continues to indicate that concentrations of estrone, testosterone, and estriol are greater in caked than in whole broiler litter.
Evaluate the effect of stacking broiler litter on the dynamics of hormone concentrations.
Four stack houses have been sampled at the time of litter storage and four to eight weeks later. In three of the houses (1, 2, and 1A), stacking reduced the concentrations of some hormones. In House 3, stacking did not affect hormone concentrations.
Evaluate the transport and decomposition of radiolabeled hormones mixed with broiler litter and applied on the soil surface.
To evaluate the effect of the organic matter present in broiler litter on hormone transport, soil columns were surface treated with either radio-labeled hormones alone, or radio-labeled hormones in the presence of broiler litter. Litter had no effect on the percentage of testosterone leaching from the columns (on average 18.0%), but it increased downward movement of testosterone through the column. Litter decreased estradiol leaching from 28.2 to 25.4%. Afterthe transport experiments were finished, fractionation was used to determine the remaining radioactivity that was either extractable (water or acetone) or associated with different organic fractions (humin, fulvic acids, and humic acids) in the soil. In general, the percentages of remaining radioactivity found in humic and fulvic acids were lower for testosterone than for estradiol.
Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the decomposition of radio-labeled estradiol and testosterone in broiler litter applied on the surface of four different soils and incubated for 6 months at -0.03, -0.75 or -1.5 MPa, each at 10, 20, and 30oC. Data of cumulative C mineralization (Cmin) for each replication was used to fit a one-pool exponential model of the form:
- Cmin = C0(1-e-kt),
where C0 is the C mineralization potential expressed as a percentage of the 14C applied, k is the first-order rate constant, and t is time in days. An analysis of variance carried out with these model parameters indicated a three-way interaction (soil x temperature x water potential) for the C mineralization potential of both hormones. In general, C mineralization potential increased with temperature and water potential, but increases were different for the different soils. Analysis of the rate constants of mineralization for estradiol indicated a soil x water potential interaction due to the fact that increasing water potential increased the rate constant in some soils but did not affect it in other soil. Also, there was a temperature x water potential interaction because increasing water potential increased the rate constant at 20oC but not at the other two temperatures. For testosterone, there was a soil x temperature x water potential interaction for the rate constant of mineralization because increasing temperature resulted in a large increase in the rate constant in one of the soils (Tifton), whereas the other three soils showed smaller changes.
The soil remaining after incubation was extracted sequentially to determine remaining radioactivity extractable with water or acetone, or associated with fulvic acids, humic acids, and humans. The percentage of radioactivity associated with humin was low for testosterone (0.6 to 2.0%) and relatively high for estradiol (22.3 to 31.8%), which suggests that the chemical structure of estradiol facilitates humification, or association with complex molecules in soil.
Evaluate the effect of runoff occurring at different times after broiler litter application as well as the effect of mechanical aeration, on the concentration of hormones in surface runoff from grassed plots.
Three rainfall simulations were conducted (September 2008, February 2009, and August 2009) to determine the effect of time of runoff on hormone concentrations. There were no differences in runoff volume between litter-treated and control plots in any of the simulations, but there were differences in hormone losses. In general, runoff from litter-treated plots had greater concentrations of estradiol and testosterone than control plots, but there was no effect of time of runoff (0, 1, 2, or 4 weeks after litter application) on concentrations in runoff.
Hormone concentrations in natural runoff are also being monitored in large grassed paddocks that receive broiler litter applications. Runoff events were recorded on days 319, 335, and 346 of 2008, on days 7, 11, 50, 61, 75, 88, 92, 103, 145, 264, 270, 285, 300, 314, 352, and 359 of 2009,and on days 17, 25, 36, and 70 of 2010. Elevated hormone concentrations with respect to control plots were observed in runoff events occurring soon after some broiler litter applications.
Future Activities:
Collection and analysis of broiler litter samples received by the Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratory will continue. One additional broiler house will be sampled at 42, 49, and 56 days of broiler age to determine age effect on hormone concentrations. Samples from one additional stack house will be analyzed to determine the effect of stacking on hormone concentrations in litter. Analysis of samples collected in a fourth rainfall simulation will be completed. Broiler litter applications will continue in the large field plots to measure hormone concentrations in natural runoff as affected by grassland aeration. Soil samples collected from rainfall simulation studies and from the natural rainfall study will be analyzed for hormone concentrations.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 9 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
water, ecology, monitoring, RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, Environmental Chemistry, Endocrine Disruptors - Environmental Exposure & Risk, endocrine disruptors, Ecology and Ecosystems, Ecological Risk Assessment, Endocrine Disruptors - Human Health, CAFOs, EDCs, endocrine disrupting chemicals, animal feeding operations, concentrated animal feeding operationsProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.