Androgenic and estrogenic activity in water bodies receiving cattle feedlot effluent in Eastern Nebraska, USA.
Studies reveal that surface waters worldwide are contaminated with hormonally active agents, many released from sewage treatment plants. Another potential source of aquatic hormonal contamination is livestock feedlot effluent. In this study, we assessed whether feedlot effluent contaminates watercourses by measuring a) total androgenic [methyltrienolone (R1881) equivalents] and estrogenic (17beta-estradiol equivalents) activity using the A-SCREEN and E-SCREEN bioassays and b) concentrations of anabolic agents via gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and enzyme-based immunoassays. Water samples were collected over 3 years from up to six sites [all confluent with the Elkhorn River, Nebraska, USA: a feedlot retention pond (site 1), a site downstream from site 1 (site 2), a stream with intermediate livestock impact (site 3), and three sites with no observable livestock impact (sites 4-6)] and two sources of tap water. In 1999, samples from site 1 contained 9.6 pM R1881 equivalents and 1.7 pM 17beta-estradiol equivalents. Site 2 samples had estrogen levels similar to those in site 1 samples but lower androgen levels (3.8 pM R1881 equivalents). Androgen levels in site 3 samples were similar to those in site 2 samples, whereas estrogen levels decreased to 0.7 pM 17beta-estradiol equivalents. At site 6, androgen levels were approximately half those found at site 3, and estrogen levels were comparable with those at site 3. Sampling in later years was limited to fewer sites because of drought and lack of permission to access one site. Instrumental analysis revealed estrone but no significant levels of resorcylic acid lactones or trenbolone metabolites. Tap water was devoid of hormonal activity. We conclude that feedlot effluents contain sufficient levels of hormonally active agents to warrant further investigation of possible effects on aquatic ecosystem health.
Department of Anatomy and Cellular Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. ana.soto@tufts.edu
Ana M
AM
Soto
Janine M
JM
Calabro
Nancy V
NV
Prechtl
Alice Y
AY
Yau
Edward F
EF
Orlando
Andreas
A
Daxenberger
Alan S
AS
Kolok
Louis J
LJ
Guillette
Bruno
B
le Bizec
Iris G
IG
Lange
Carlos
C
Sonnenschein
D000728:Androgens / Q000032:analysis*; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002417:Cattle; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015741:Metribolone / Q000032:analysis; D009329:Nebraska; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply
D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D014873:Water Pollutants; D015741:Metribolone; D004958:Estradiol