Grantee Research Project Results
2008 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 , 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, 2007 through June 30,2008
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:
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 are being analyzed for hormones. Approximately 150 samples have been analyzed so far. Preliminary results indicate that testosterone tends to decrease as the number of flocks increases from 1 to 5 (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1. Effect of number of flocks on hormone concentrations in broiler litter.
Also, broiler litter samples were collected from brooding and non-brooding areas of two poultry houses at 42, 49 and 56 days of broiler age to evaluate the effect of broiler age on hormone concentrations in the litter. These samples are being analyzed.
b) Evaluate the effect of stacking broiler litter on the dynamics of hormone concentrations.
Two stack houses have been sampled at the time of litter storage and four weeks later. Preliminary results obtained from the first stack house suggest that broiler liter stacking may reduce the concentration of testosterone in the first stack increment (0-30 cm;Fig. 2).
Fig. 2. Initial and final (4 weeks) concentrations of testosterone in broiler litter at different distances from the stack
house floor.
c) Evaluate the transport and decomposition of radiolabeled hormones mixed with broiler litter and applied on the soil surface. Laboratory studies were initiated to study the decomposition of estradiol and testosterone in broiler litter mixed with four different soils and incubated at -0.03, -0.75 and -1.5 MPa, each at 10, 20, and 30oC. Even after 105 days, the percentage of estradiol mineralization was low (<11%) regardless of soil series, soil water potential, and soil temperature. The percentage of mineralization increased with increasing water content for all soil series to a maximum of 10%. In some soils, estradiol decomposition increased with temperature, whereas in other soils it tended to decrease with temperature. Preliminary results suggest that the decomposition of testosterone is proceeding at a faster rate than that of estradiol.
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. Field plots for rainfall simulation were installed and a rainfall simulation for collection of baseline data was carried out. Equipment installation in the new paddocks for evaluation of mechanical aeration was completed and broiler litter was applied to the paddocks on April 21, 2008. There has not been any significant runoff event since broiler litter application.
Future Activities:
Collection and analysis of broiler litter samples received by the Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratory will continue. Laboratory incubations will continue to measure the decomposition of estradiol and testosterone in broiler litter mixed with soil. Columns will be prepared to study the transport of hormones in disturbed and undisturbed soil samples. Rainfall simulations will be carried out to determine the effect of runoff occurring at different times after broiler litter applications. Also, broiler litter will continue to be applied and generated runoff collected from field paddocks to evaluate the effect of aeration on hormone concentrations in runoff.Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 9 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
water, ecology, monitoring, Health, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Ecological Risk Assessment, Environmental Chemistry, Endocrine Disruptors - Human Health, endocrine disruptors, Endocrine Disruptors - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Ecology and Ecosystems, concentrated animal feeding operations, EDCs, animal feeding operations, endocrine disrupting chemicals, CAFOsProgress 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.