Steroid Hormone Runoff from Agricultural Test Plots Applied with Municipal Biosolids

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The potential presence of steroid hormones in runoff from sites where biosolids have been used as agricultural fertilizers is an environmental concern. A study was conducted to assess the potential for runoff of seventeen different hormones and two sterols, including androgens, estrogens, and progestogens from agricultural test plots. The field containing the test plots had been applied with biosolids for the first time immediately prior to this study. Target compounds were isolated by solid-phase extraction (water samples) and pressurized solvent extraction (solid samples), derivatized, and analyzed by gas chromatography− tandem mass spectrometry. Runoff samples collected prior to biosolids application had low concentrations of two hormones (estrone <0.8 to 2.23 ng L −1 and androstenedione <0.8 to 1.54 ng L −1 ) and cholesterol (22.5 ± 3.8 μg L −1 ). In contrast, significantly higher concentrations of multiple estrogens (<0.8 to 25.0 ng L −1 ), androgens (<2 to 216 ng L −1 ), and progesterone (<8 to 98.9 ng L −1 ) were observed in runoff samples taken 1, 8, and 35 days after biosolids application. A significant positive correlation was observed between antecedent rainfall amount and hormone mass loads (runoff). Hormones in runoff were primarily present in the dissolved phase (<0.7-μm GF filter), and, to a lesser extent bound to the suspended-particle phase. Overall, these results indicate that rainfall can mobilize hormones from biosolids-amended agricultural fields, directly to surface waters or redistributed to terrestrial sites away from the point of application via runoff. Although concentrations decrease over time, 35 days is insufficient for complete degradation of hormones in soil at this site.

Effect of rainfall timing and tillage on the transport of steroid hormones in runoff from manure amended row crop fields

“…Barel-Cohen et al [49] reported that 10 ng L −1 as the Lowest Observable Effect Level (LOEL) for total estrogen (17␤-estradiol + estrone). The results of this study are similar to previous reports by Mansell et al [20] and Yang et al [50]. DeLaune and Moore [51] also showed that manure type, application rate, and time until the first runoff event after manure application can affect the transport of steroid hormones to surface water.…”

Effects of soil managements on surface runoff and soil water content in jujube orchard under simulated rainfalls

“…Soil surface managements also reduced the impact of the kinetic energy of rain drops, and increased rainfall interception and storage. These beneficial effects are closely related to mulch application rates and diversity of materials (Adekalu et al, 2007;Jordán et al, 2010;Yang et al, 2012). Montenegro et al (2013) conducted a simulated rainfall experiment by using 3 surface covers with different mulching applications, and observed 51% reduction in runoff peak value under a mulch cover of 4 t ha −1 .…”

Use of a Surrogate to Evaluate the Impact of Tillage on the Transport of Steroid Hormones from Manure-Amended Agricultural Fields

“…Further, the aqueous solubility for EE2 (table 1) is less than that of other steroid hormones, which would support less EE2 dissolved in surface runoff. However, Yang et al (2012) found that 95% of progesterone was identified in the dissolved phase rather than the particle-associated phase. Hildebrand et al (2006) found that EE2 did not exhibit a specific trend of desorption across different initial EE2 concentrations.…”

“…They analyzed for nine different natural and synthetic hormones (four natural estrogens, three synthetic androgens, and two natural androgens), and none were detected in more than 19% of the samples from drainage ditches and 23% of the samples from tile drains, except estrone, which was detected in 20% and 52% of samples from drainage ditches and tile drains, respectively. Research reported by Yang et al (2012) found different detection frequencies of hormones depending on the timing of rainfall. Previous work by the authors noted less than 21% detections of steroid hormones or their metabolites in surface runoff samples collected during rainfall simulations on row crop production areas receiving stockpiled or composted beef feedlot manure (data not shown).…”