Grantee Research Project Results
2009 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. , 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, 2008 through June 30,2009
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:
Objective(s) of the Research Project are to:
- determine concentrations of 17ß-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:
Progress on Objective a) Determine concentrations of 17ß-estradiol, estrone, and testosterone in different classes of broiler litter. Selected broiler litter samples received by the Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratory are being analyzed for hormones. Approximately 260 samples (of a total of 340 samples) have been collected and approximately 214 samples have been analyzed. Results obtained so far indicate that concentrations of estrone, testosterone, and estriol are greater in caked than in whole broiler litter. Also, increasing the number of flocks before cleanout from 1 to 3 increased the concentrations of estrone, estradiol, and estrone in caked litter but had no effect on whole litter. Instead, increasing the number of flocks from 3 to 5 increased the concentrations of estrone and estriol in whole litter. Two broiler houses were sampled at 42, 49, and 56 days of broiler age to determine if broiler age affected the concentration of hormones in broiler litter. In general, results indicate that hormone concentrations are not affected by broiler age, with the exception of estrone in one broiler house, which decreased as broiler age increased.
Progress on Objective b) Evaluate the effect of stacking broiler litter on the dynamics of hormone concentrations. Three stack houses have been sampled at the time of litter storage and 4 weeks later. Results obtained suggest that stacking litter for 4 weeks may reduce the concentrations of estradiol, testosterone, and estriol.
Progress on Objective c) Evaluate the transport and decomposition of radiolabeled hormones mixed with broiler litter and applied on the soil surface. Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the decomposition of radio-labeled estradiol and testosterone in broiler litter mixed with four different soils and incubated for 6 months at - 0.03, -0.75 or -1.5 MPa, each at 10, 20, and 30oC. In general, testosterone and estradiol mineralization decreased with soil temperature and soil water content, but there were significant two- and three-way interactions. Overall, the total amount of hormone decomposition in 6 months was always greater for testosterone (ranging from 20 to 45%) than from estradiol (ranging from 8 to 14%). To model transport of hormones in soil, adsorption isotherms are being developed for soil, and soil+litter with soil samples from the 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths. Results show that sorption of both hormones (estradiol and testosterone) is greater at a depth of 0-15 cm than at a depth of 15-30 cm, presumably because of the greater organic carbon content in the upper layer (2.31% C versus 1.07% C). Also, average linear adsorption coefficients (Kd) for testosterone are slightly lower than those for estradiol, and sorption of hormones is decreased when litter is present in the soil (presumably because of competition for adsorption sites by organic compounds in the litter).
Progress on Objective 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. Two rainfall simulations were conducted with small plots, one in September 2008 and one in February 2009, to evaluate the effect of runoff time on hormone concentraitons. In neither of the two simulations were there significant differences in surface runoff volume between litter-treated and control plots, but there were differences in hormone losses. Runoff from litter-treated plots had greater concentrations of estradiol and testosterone than control plots. There was not effect of time of runoff (0, 1, 2, or 4 weeks after litter application) on hormone concentrations in runoff.
Hormone concentrations in natural runoff are being monitored in large grassed paddocks that receive broiler litter applications twice a year. Broiler litter at a rate of 5.6 Mg/ha was applied to six 0.8-ha plots in April 2008, November 2008, and March 2009. 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. Runoff events were recorded on days 319, 335, and 340 of 2008, and on days 7, 11, 50, 61, 75, 87, 92, 103, and 145 of 2009. Elevated hormone concentrations with respect to control plots were observed in runoff events occurring soon after 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 the age effect on hormone concentrations. Two additional stack houses will be sampled to determine the effect of stacking on hormone concentrations in litter. Analysis of samples collected in the laboratory incubation of hormones will proceed to attempt to identify hormone metabolites as well as hormones associated with soil organic matter fractions. Columns studies will continue to evaluate and model hormone transport trough soil. Additional rainfall simulation studies with small plots will be conducted in August 2009 and February 2010 to evaluate the effect of runoff time (with respect to litter application) on hormone concentrations in runoff. Broiler litter applications will continue in the large field plots to measure hormone concentrations in natural runoff as affected by grassland aeration.
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, 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.