Estrogen Content of Dairy and Swine Wastes

Abstract

Naturally occurring estrogens in animal wastes may cause negative environmental impacts, yet their abundance in animal waste treatment and storage structures is poorly documented. To better quantify estrogen concentrations in animal wastes, multiple waste samples were collected from treatment and storage structures at dairy and swine facilities and analyzed for concentrations of 17beta-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and 17alpha-estradiol by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (E2 only). Mass ratios of each estrogen to the macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were also determined. Because manure application rates are typically macronutrient-based, estrogen to macronutrient ratios are proportional to areal mass application rates of estrogen to fields. Swine farrowing waste (from farrowing sows and piglets) had the highest ratios of E2 to macronutrients. Mean ratios in swine farrowing waste were roughly twice those in swine finishing waste (from growing male and nonpregnant female animals) and more than four times higher than those in dairy waste (from lactating cows in various stages of their reproductive cycles); these differences were statistically significant (alpha = 0.05). Estrone followed a similar trend. In contrast, ratios of 17alpha-estradiol to macronutrients were highest in dairy operations. These results can be used to better predict estrogen loading rates on fields receiving swine and dairy wastes.

Aerobic and Anaerobic Transformations in Estrogens and Nutrients in Swine Manure: Environmental Consequences

“…Total estrogen concentrations observed in the present study were comparable to those reported by Combalbert et al [7], Raman et al [22] and Zhang et al [23], but lower than those reported by Furuichi et al [24]. The following patterns of estrogen concentrations were observed:…”

Eficiência Do Tratamento Anaeróbio Na Remoção De Hormônios Veterinários Do Dejeto Líquido Suíno

“…Assim, tem-se a hipótese de ter ocorrido a conversão do 17α-estradiol em 17β-estradiol ou em uma terceira molécula. Em estudos laboratoriais com resíduos da atividade leiteira, Raman et al 40 perceberam nos resultados uma rápida transformação de estradiol em estrona.…”

Fate and occurrence of steroids in swine and dairy cattle farms with different farming scales and wastes disposal systems

“…This demonstrates that 17a-ethynyl estradiol is used in the swine farms as an additive and it is difficult to be removed by the digester and lagoon systems. Previous studies of livestock wastewater were mainly on estrogens, with the concentrations varying greatly between different studies (Raman et al, 2004;Zheng et al, 2008). Raman et al (2004) reported that the concentrations of 17a-estradiol and estrone in swine finishing lagoons were in the range of 1800e3300 ng/L, and 5900e14,000 ng/L, respectively.…”

“…Previous studies of livestock wastewater were mainly on estrogens, with the concentrations varying greatly between different studies (Raman et al, 2004;Zheng et al, 2008). Raman et al (2004) reported that the concentrations of 17a-estradiol and estrone in swine finishing lagoons were in the range of 1800e3300 ng/L, and 5900e14,000 ng/L, respectively. By contrast, in the study of Zheng et al (2008), and total estrogen concentration in the tertiary lagoon was less than 5 ng/L, which was almost 2 orders of magnitude less than that in the primary lagoon.…”