Leaching of Estrogenic Hormones from Manure-Treated Structured Soils

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 41; no. 11; pp. 3911 - 3917
• Main Authors: Olsen, Preben, Bach, Kamilla, Barlebo, Heidi C, Ingerslev, Flemming, Hansen, Martin, Sørensen, Bent Halling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.06.2007
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biological and physicochemical properties of pollutants. Interaction in the soil; Drainage; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; Estrogens; Estrogens - analysis; Estrogens - chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hogs; Leaching; Manure; Manures; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Risk Assessment; Soil; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil and water pollution; Soil science; Soils; Water; Water - chemistry; Metabolite; Estrogen; 17β-Estradiol; Mobility; Soil pollution; Loamy soil; Swine; Risk assessment; Lixiviation; Agricultural waste; Ungulata; Organic compounds; Pollutant behavior; Endocrine disruptor; Agricultural soil; Farmyard manure; Drainage; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Porous medium flow; Waste reuse; Estrone; Artiodactyla; Sex steroid hormone; Degradation product; Macroporosity
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es0627747

The threat to the aquatic environment posed by root zone leaching of estrogens from manure-treated fields has hitherto been overlooked. The steroid hormones 17β-estradiol (E2) and its degradation product estrone (E1) are of particular environmental concern as both are abundant in slurry from pregnant and cycling pigs and both are potential endocrine disruptors (lowest observable effect level (LOEL) 14 and 3.3 ng/L, respectively). The present one-year study examines the transport of E1 and E2 from manure to tile drainage systems at two field sites on structured, loamy soil. The estrogens leached from the root zone to tile drainage water in concentrations exceeding the LOEL for as long as 3 months after application, with the maximum recorded concentration of E1 and E2 being 68.1 and 2.5 ng/L, respectively. Transport of estrogens from the soil to the aquatic environment was governed by pronounced macropore flow and consequent rapid movement of the estrogens to the tile drains. These findings suggest that the application of manure to structured soils poses a potential contamination risk to the aquatic environment with estrogen, particularly when manure is applied to areas where the majority of streamwater derives from drainage water.