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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Animal Metabolism-Agricultural Chemicals Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #364770
Research Project: Detection and Fate of Chemical and Biological Residues in Food and Environmental Systems

Location: Animal Metabolism-Agricultural Chemicals Research

Title: Estrogenicity of agricultural runoff: rainfall simulation study of worst-case scenarios using fresh farrowing swine manure, layer and broiler litter

Author
item Shappell, Nancy
item Billey, Lloyd
item SHIPITALO, MARTIN - Retired ARS Employee

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/11/2019
Publication Date: 11/3/2019
Citation: Shappell, N.W., Billey, L.O., Shipitalo, M.J. 2019. Estrogenicity of agricultural runoff: rainfall simulation study of worst-case scenarios using fresh farrowing swine manure, layer and broiler litter [abstract]. 40th Annual Mtg of North American Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. November 3 - 7, 2019. Toronto, Canada. Poster No. PC021.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Agricultural runoff into surface water has been implicated in the feminization of fish, but field studies have failed to associate estrogens in runoff directly with effects on fish. Therefore, fresh manure from laying hens, roaster chickens, and farrowing swine, animals known to excrete high concentrations of estrogens, was tilled into plots (n = 6 for each manure type), and 24h later rainfall simulation was conducted. Runoff was collected for 30 min. Estrogenic activity (estradiol equivalents, E2Eq) was measured in vitro using E-Screen, in addition to a panel of N, P, and total organic carbon. Rainfall simulations were again conducted at 1- and 3-week post manure application. Year 1, three layer litter plots had E2Eqs that approached the No Effect Concentration of 2 ng/L 24h post-application. While one plot remained at 1.6 ng/L E2Eqs at one week, the other plots ranged from 0.1 – 0.5. In YR 2 and 3, maximum E2Eqs concentrations at 24h ranged from 2.1 to 6.6 ng/L, somewhat above the NOEC. By week 1, concentrations were = 25% of 24h concentrations. In YR 2 roaster litter gave similar results, with 24h E2Eqs of 1.3 to 5.1 ng/L, with similar reductions of E2Eqs by week 1. In YR 3, 24h swine slurry ranged from 0.4 to 4.7 ng/L. Despite plot proximity to one another, there was substantial variability among plots, yet it appears that even these worst-case scenarios failed to result in runoff E2Eqs concentrations high enough to alter biological processes in aquatic organisms.