Migration of natural estrogens around a concentrated dairy-feeding operation

Environ Monit Assess. 2012 Aug;184(8):5035-41. doi: 10.1007/s10661-011-2319-9. Epub 2011 Sep 14.

Abstract

Concentrated animal feeding operations have been recognized as one of the most important contributors of natural estrogens which show significant endocrine-disrupting properties in aquatic environments. In this study, the concentrations of 17α-estradiol (17α-E2), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), estrone (E1), and estriol (E3) in several matrices, including soils (surface and deep), sediments (surface and deep), and groundwaters, around a typical dairy farm were surveyed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Of the two farmlands, surface and subsurface sediments in waste lagoon and along effluent drainage drench, the concentrations of 17α-E2, 17β-E2, and E1 ranged from below detection limit to the highest level of 6.60 μg/kg, except that E3 was not detectable. Three estrogens of 17α-E2, 17β-E2, and E1 with the concentrations of 3.18-31.61 ng/L were observed in two groundwater samples. The results clearly demonstrated the vertical migration and horizontal transport of estrogens in the investigated area. Within 750-m distance, it was observed the attenuation of 17α-E2, 17β-E2, and E1 along the effluent route and the horizontal migration of estrogens was less than 1,350 m in this survey.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dairying
  • Endocrine Disruptors / analysis
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis*
  • Estradiol / analysis
  • Estriol / analysis
  • Estrogens / analysis*
  • Estrone / analysis
  • Groundwater / chemistry
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Chemical
  • Soil / chemistry

Substances

  • Endocrine Disruptors
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Estrogens
  • Soil
  • Estrone
  • Estradiol
  • Estriol