Grantee Research Project Results
2012 Progress Report: An Integrated Approach to Developing a Total Facility Estrogen Budget at a Swine Farrowing CAFO
EPA Grant Number: R833420Title: An Integrated Approach to Developing a Total Facility Estrogen Budget at a Swine Farrowing CAFO
Investigators: Kullman, Seth W. , Reckhow, Kenneth H. , Meyer, M. T.
Current Investigators: Kullman, Seth W. , Meyer, M. T. , Reckhow, Kenneth H.
Institution: North Carolina State University , United States Geological Survey , Duke University
Current Institution: North Carolina State University , Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences , Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2013 (Extended to January 31, 2014)
Project Period Covered by this Report: February 1, 2012 through January 31,2013
Project Amount: $663,532
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:
Little information is available regarding the concentration, release, fate and transport of estrogenic compounds in animal waste treatment and storage facilities. Naturally occurring estrogens in animal wastes present an emerging risk to terrestrial and aquatic environments through their potential release and action as endocrine disruptors. Given the trend in agriculture toward concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and the extensive volume of waste generated, the potential for environmental impact “cannot be overstated.” Large data gaps include: operation specific generation, concentrations and fate of these hormones, their conjugates and metabolites throughout CAFO facilities. Specifically, little data have been generated evaluating estrogen loads from differing swine operations such as farrowing and finishing facilities. We must develop quantitative information regarding: reproductive status and estrogen excretion by individual animals, the stability of estrogens in open pit holding lagoons and mobility of estrogens to surface waters following spray field application of swine waste as fertilizer. To address these data gaps, we focus on a swine farrowing CAFO based on its operational units. By creating a hierarchical structure, assessments of estrogen fate will be “parameterized” and used for input into a Bayesian network model.
Progress Summary:
Progress on this project (R833420) is proceeding as per the awarded no cost extension (NCE) agreement. All data discovery on the project has been completed. All progress made for individual aims within this reporting period are described below. To date, all data acquisition for Aims 1 and 2 of the project are in their final stages or have been completed. All analytical data have been completed by D. Michael Meyer at the United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.). Data are currently being compiled and analyzed by the Kullman laboratory for inclusion into the final manuscript, which describes the flow of natural steroid analytes throughout the CAFO field facility. This includes a complete analysis of parent steroid hormones (estrogens, progestins, androgens), hormone conjugates and phytoestrogens from multiple phases of the facility, including animals, barn flush/pits, lagoon and spryfield. It is anticipated that all of the data analysis will be completed by December 2013.
Significant progress has been made within the last reporting period culminating in the completion of all data acquisition, including completion of:
- Three rounds of sample collection over multiple phases-operational units within the swine farrowing facility, including animal waste from individual animal barns, consolidated barn flush, transverse and stratified lagoon liquids/solids and sludge, and transverse and stratified soil samples from the spray field.
- Sample processing and extraction of natural animal hormones, hormone conjugates and phytoestrogens from all matrices, including urine, fecal material, barnflush solids, barn flush liquids, lagoon slurry liquids/solids, lagoon sludge liquids/solids, and all soil samples from the spray field.
- Analytical analysis of natural animal hormones, hormone conjugates and phytoestrogens from all phases and sampling rounds.
- Bioanalytical analysis (YES and/or T47Kbluc) of natural animal hormones, hormone conjugates and phytoestrogens from all phases and sampling rounds.
- Biological assessment of estrogenic effects of CAFO extracts using the medaka model.
- Aim 1 of the project has been completed with three anticipated manuscripts submitted to Environmental Science and Technology.
- Aim 2 of the project has been completed with a submitted dissertation and multiple publications that are in review or in progress.
Future Activities:
- R1. Finalize remaining analytical assessments.
- R2. Finalize compilation of data from each phase of CAFO system (i.e., including animals, barn flush/pits, lagoon and spryfield).
- R3. Establish graphical output of data.
- R4. Continue collaboration with bioinformatics scientist for global integration of data and data output.
Efforts between (01/02/2013) and the project completion data (01/31/2014) will focus on data compilation and data formatting for publication in peer review journals. Efforts also include finalizing data summaries and compilation of project final report.
Figure 1: Detections of free and conjugated steroidal estrogen species in urine and feces. Each symbol represents analyte concentrations in an individual sample, and the bar represents the grand mean concentration of all analytes within the given gestational stage. All concentrations are parts-per-trillion (ng/lurine, or ng/kg dry mass feces).
Figure 2: A comparison of analyte levels in urine/feces, barn flush, lagoon slurry, and lagoon sludge. Light grey shading represents the liquid fraction of each type of sample (i.e., urine, barn flush liquids, lagoon slurry and sludge liquids), while dark grey shading represents the solid fraction of each type of sample (i.e., feces, barn flush solids, lagoon slurry and sludge solids).
Figure 3: Total analyte concentrations and estrogenic activity (mean ± SEM) in slurry and sludge across the three rounds of sampling, showing the relative distribution of analytes and estrogenic activity between the aqueous and solid phases of each type of sample.
Figure 4: Steroidal estrogen concentrations (ng/kg dry weight) in A) the top 1 cm of soil, and B) the 15 cm soil core. Floating bars show the range in concentration on each day (minimum to maximum).
Figure 5: Mass flux of four steroidal estrogen species (estrone, 17b-estradiol, 17a-estradiol, estriol) and EEQs across the major operational units of the sow CAFO.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 28 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
CAFO, estrogens, fate and transport, mass balanceProgress 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.