Grantee Research Project Results

2009 Progress Report: Transport and Transformation of Natural and Synthetic Steroid Hormones at Beef Cattle and Dairy Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

EPA Grant Number: R833422
Title: Transport and Transformation of Natural and Synthetic Steroid Hormones at Beef Cattle and Dairy Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
Investigators: Sedlak, David L. , Kolodziej, Edward P. , Harter, Thomas
Institution: University of California - Berkeley , University of Nevada - Reno , University of California - Davis
Current Institution: University of California - Berkeley , University of California - Davis , University of Nevada - Reno
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2010 (Extended to September 30, 2012)
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2008 through September 30,2009
Project Amount: $698,103
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:

The objective of our research is to assess the occurrence, fate and transport of natural and synthetic steroid hormones at beef and dairy cattle confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). As part of our project, we are focusing on steroid hormone transport through surface water runoff and groundwater.

Progress Summary:

During the first year of the project, we developed and refined analytical methods for analysis of synthetic steroid hormones, built and tested equipment for conducting small-scale studies and analyzed samples from several field sites.

We also assessed the potential for transport of steroid hormones in surface runoff, by analyzing runoff samples from several beef cattle operations in Northern California and conducting an experiment in which surface runoff over a manure-containing field was simulated under different conditions. Results of the field measurements and experimental study indicated that concentrations of several different steroid hormones (e.g., estrone, androstenedione and progesterone) of up to 15 ng/L can be released in runoff. This finding is potentially significant because certain steroid hormones can cause adverse impacts to fish and aquatic organisms at concentrations as low as 1 ng/L.

In the second year we focused our efforts on developing a better understanding of the processes that affect steroid fate and transport in CAFOs by conducting controlled experiments with a rainfall simulator. As part of these efforts, a small herd of cattle was maintained in a feedlot for several weeks prior to application of simulated rainfall. Runoff collected from the site was analyzed for steroid hormones, nutrients and water quality parameters. Results of the analysis indicate the presence of steroid hormone concentrations of up to 200 ng/L in the runoff. In addition, much of the mass of steroids transported from the test plots passed through a filter, indicating that it was not associated with particles that could be readily removed by settling. This observation is important because many of the best management practices for control of other contaminants (e.g., nutrients, pathogens) involve settling of particles.

Future Activities:

During the coming year, we plan to continue our efforts to understand the transport of steroid hormones in surface runoff and groundwater. Specifically, we will continue experiments on the release of steroid hormones in surface runoff with experiments that simulate rainfall and surface runoff on manure-containing plots. We also will collect samples of surface runoff and groundwater at field sites in California and Iowa.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 21 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

estradiol, estrogen, endocrine disruption, EDC, Health, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Environmental Chemistry, Endocrine Disruptors - Human Health, endocrine disruptors, Biochemistry, Endocrine Disruptors - Environmental Exposure & Risk, concentrated animal feeding operations, EDCs, animal feeding operations, endocrine disrupting chemicals, CAFOs

Relevant Websites:

http://www.ce.berkeley.edu/~sedlak/ Exit

http://groundwater.ucdavis.edu/ Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The 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.