Grantee Research Project Results
2011 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. , Franklin, Dorcas H. , 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 , 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, 2010 through June 30,2011
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:
- determine concentrations of 17β-estradiol, estrone, and testosterone in different classes of broiler litter;
- evaluate the effect of stacking broiler litter on the dynamics of hormone concentrations;
- evaluate the transport and decomposition of radio-labeled hormones mixed with broiler litter and applied on the soil surface; and
- 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:
a) 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 of the University of Georgia were analyzed for hormones. The broiler litter samples analyzed included full cleanout, which refers to total removal of litter from a broiler house, and cake cleanout, which refers to removal of caked litter only. The concentrations of hormones in each of these litter types were compared when litter received no treatment, alum treatment, or PLT treatment. In litter without treatment, full cleanout had 35 to 50% less estrone, estradiol, and testosterone than cake cleanout. Similarly, in litter with Alum treatment, full cleanout had 62 to 70% less estrone and testosterone than cake cleanout. In litter with PLT treatment, however, concentrations of estrone, estradiol, and testosterone did not differ between full and cake cleanouts.
b) Evaluate the effect of stacking broiler litter on the dynamics of hormone concentrations.
Six stack houses have been sampled at the time of litter storage and 4 to 8 weeks later. In five of the houses, stacking reduced the concentrations of some hormones by 28 to 75%. No differences were observed in hormone degradation at different heights in the litter stack.
c) Evaluate the transport and decomposition of radiolabeled hormones mixed with broiler litter and applied on the soil surface.
Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of temperature and water potential on decomposition of 14C-labeled estradiol and testosterone when applied on the soil surface (as is done in pastures). Potentially mineralizable C in estradiol generally increased with increasing temperature and increasing water potential although, overall, the range was small (1.5 to 13.8 %). Similar to estradiol, mineralizable testosterone generally increased with increasing water content; however, dissimilar to estradiol, mineralization of testosterone decreased with increasing temperature. With the exception of one soil, the overall range of mineralizable C for testosterone was small (33.7 to 48.0%), although this range was much higher than that for estradiol (1.5 to 13.8%).
Of the 14C derived from estradiol or testosterone that remained in soil after incubation, water- and acetone-extractable fractions tended to decrease with time, whereas fractions associated with organic matter tended to increase with time (humin, humic acid, fulvic acid). These results suggest that estradiol and testosterone undergo a process of humification in soil.
Sorption isotherms were developed for 14C-labeled testosterone and 3H-labeled estradiol in a Cecil sandy clay loam with and without poultry litter addition. The effect of applying the hormones alone (single-sorbate) or together (multi-sorbate) also was investigated. Estradiol exhibited higher affinity for soil and litter than testosterone. Sorption of 14C-estradiol in the soil+litter treatment was higher than in the soil-only treatment (Kd soil+litter > Kd soil). In contrast, sorption of 14C-testosterone in the soil+litter treatment was significantly lower than in the soil-only treatment (Kd soil+litter < Kd soil). These results suggest that leaching of testosterone from soil may be greater in the presence of poultry litter (as it occurs naturally) than when testosterone is applied alone. When both hormones were applied together, their Kd values for soil sorption decreased, but unexpectedly, the testosterone Kd was significantly higher (12.5 mL g-1) than the estradiol Kd (7.4 mL g-1).
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.
Four rainfall simulations were conducted, one in September 2008, one in February 2009, one in August 2009, and one in January 2010 to determine the effect of broiler litter addition (4,667 kg ha-1) and time of runoff (0, 1, 2, or 4 weeks after application) 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. With the exception of the January 2010 study, runoff from litter-treated plots had greater concentrations of estradiol and testosterone than control plots. The January 2010 study showed no differences between litter-treated and control plots. There was no effect of time of runoff (0, 1, 2, or 4 weeks after litter application) on hormone concentrations in runoff.
Hormone concentrations in natural runoff were monitored in large (0.8 ha) grassed paddocks that receive broiler litter applications. Broiler litter at a rate of 5.6 Mg/ha was applied to six 0.8- ha paddocks in April 2008, November 2008, March 2009, November 2009, April 2010, and November 2010. Three of the plots were aerated immediately after litter application, whereas the other three plots did not receive any mechanical treatment. In addition, four 0.8-ha grassed plots without broiler litter application were used as controls, with two being aerated and two left untreated. The aeration treatment reduced concentrations of estradiol and testosterone in some runoff events that occurred soon after broiler litter application. Thus, mechanical aeration may be a useful management practice to reduce hormone concentrations in surface runoff from pastures.
Future Activities:
Analysis of samples from one additional broiler house and from soil samples collected from the natural rainfall study will be completed. Manuscripts describing findings will be submitted for publication.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 9 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Bera M, Radcliffe DE, Cabrera ML, Vencill WK, Thompson A, Hassan S. 17-β estradiol and testosterone sorption in soil with and without poultry litter. Journal of Environmental Quality 2011;40(6):1983-1990. |
R833419 (2011) R833419 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
water, ecology, monitoring, RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, Environmental Chemistry, Endocrine Disruptors - Environmental Exposure & Risk, endocrine disruptors, Ecological Risk Assessment, Ecology and Ecosystems, 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.