Manure-borne estrogens as potential environmental contaminants: a review
Travis A Hanselman1, Donald A Graetz, Ann C Wilkie
1Soil and Water Science Department, 106 Newell Hall, P.O. Box 110510, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0510, USA. taha@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
Environmental Science & Technology
|January 14, 2004
Summary
Livestock waste contaminates water with estrogenic hormones, posing risks to aquatic life. More research is needed to understand estrogen fate and transport from manure to minimize environmental impact.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecotoxicology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Livestock waste is a significant source of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs).
- Steroidal estrogens (e.g., estradiol, estrone, estriol) in water at low concentrations can harm aquatic vertebrate reproductive systems.
- Understanding estrogen properties and environmental fate is crucial for risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current scientific knowledge on estrogen physicochemical properties.
- To examine estrogen excretion patterns in different livestock species.
- To assess the environmental fate and transport of manure-borne estrogens.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific studies on estrogens in livestock waste and the environment.
- Analysis of physicochemical properties: water solubility and hydrophobicity (log Kow).
- Compilation of data on estrogen excretion by cattle, swine, and poultry.
Main Results:
- Estrogens exhibit low water solubility (0.8-13.3 mg L(-1)) and moderate hydrophobicity (log Kow 2.6-4.0).
- Cattle excrete primarily 17alpha-estradiol and estrone, while swine and poultry excrete 17beta-estradiol, estrone, and estriol.
- Laboratory studies show rapid estrogen degradation/sorption, contrasting with field studies indicating mobility and persistence impacting water quality.
Conclusions:
- Estrogens from livestock waste pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems.
- Discrepancies exist between lab and field data regarding estrogen environmental fate.
- Standardized analytical methods and further research on degradation, sorption, and transport mechanisms are essential to mitigate contamination risks.
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