Fate of steroid hormones and endocrine activities in swine manure disposal and treatment facilities

Local and Global Public Health and Emissions from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in the USA: A Scoping Review

Up to 1.6 million tons of waste is produced annually by each of more than 21,000 concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) located in the United States (USA). These operations give rise to externalities, including adverse local and global health impacts from CAFO waste emissions, which can potentially outweigh their economic viability. However, a shortage of evidence synthesis research exclusively on the impacts of USA-based CAFO waste emissions may hinder effective policy development. This scoping review (ScR) study, adhering to the guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute, conducted a search in databases including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase in May 2020, resulting in ten publications that met the inclusion criteria. The results suggest possible exposure of CAFO workers to multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA), campylobacteriosis, and cryptosporidiosis. Communities near CAFOs experienced higher rates of adverse health impacts compared to those in non-CAFO areas, with patterns suggesting that proximity may correlate with increased odds of detrimental health effects. Implicit global health threats include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), MDRSA, campylobacteriosis, tuberculosis, and cryptosporidiosis. These studies provide foundational insights into CAFO proximity, density patterns, and adverse public health effects, indicating a need for evidence-informed environmental health policies to minimize local and global risks.

Framework for evaluation of food safety in the circular food system

In order to minimise food waste, side streams from feed and food production are increasingly being (re-) used in food supply chains. Such reuse contributes to the desire to implement circularity in food and agricultural systems. However, the reuse of side products in circular food systems may impact food safety, for instance, contaminant residues present at low levels in biomass may accumulate when reusing streams. In order to assess potential food safety issues related to circular food systems, a framework has been developed in this study. Based on this framework, appropriate actions can be taken to prevent from human health risks. The framework consists of three steps: 1. Describing the changes in the food supply chain as a result of the circularity transition; 2. Identifying potential food safety hazards related to the change; and 3. Prioritising food safety hazards related to the circularity transition. For the prioritisation, both the presence of the hazards in final foods and the effects of the hazards on human health need to be assessed. Persistence of the hazard in the environment and potential transfer from the environment to the final food product are relevant elements to include. The framework was tested in three case studies, showing that it allows for a prioritisation between hazards. Based on the case study results, circularity not so much influences the health effects of the hazards, but rather their presence depending on the persistence and transfer of food safety hazards in a circular system.

Estrogens and xenoestrogen residues in manure-based fertilizers and their potential ecological risks

Optimal manure treatment aimed at usage as agricultural soil fertilizers is a prerequisite ecological pollution control strategy. In this work, livestock manure-based fertilizers were collected from 71 animal farms across 14 provinces in China. The contamination levels and potential ecotoxicological risks of residual steroid estrogens (SEs): estrone (E1), estriol (E3), 17α-estradiol (17α-E2), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) and xenoestrogen (XE) bisphenol A (BPA), were investigated. The results showed that the occurrence frequencies for SEs and XE ranged from 66.67% to 100%, and the mean concentration varied considerably across the study locations. The total content of SEs and XE in Hebei province was the highest, and swine manure-based fertilizers concentrations were higher than the levels reported in other animal fertilizers. Compared with farm level manure, manure-based fertilizers are processed by composting, and the micropollutants quantities are significantly reduced (mean: 87.65 - 534.02 μg/kg). The total estradiol equivalent quantity (EEQ) that might migrate to the soil was estimated to be 1.23 μg/kg. Based on the estimated application rate of manure, 38% of the fertilizers risk quotients exceeded 0.1, indicating medium to high risks pressure on terrestrial organisms. Nonetheless, the estrogenic risk was lower in manure-based fertilizers than in manure. This study highlights the significance of proper treatment of livestock manure and designing an optimal manure fertilization strategy to mitigate the risks posed by SEs and XEs to the agroecosystems.

Knowledge and Practices of Cypriot Bovine Farmers towards Effective and Safe Manure Management

Manure from bovine farms is commonly used as an organic fertiliser. However, if not properly managed, it can spread significant biological and chemical hazards, threatening both human and animal health. The effectiveness of risk control hugely relies on farmers' knowledge regarding safe manure management and on the application of suitable management practices. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and practices of Cypriot bovine farmers towards safer manure management, from its generation to its final use, in line with the One Health approach. Factors affecting farmers' knowledge and applied practices are also investigated through a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was developed and sent to all eligible bovine farmers in Cyprus (n = 353), and 30% (n = 105) of them returned the completed questionnaire. Results revealed there are some gaps in farmers' knowledge. The use of manure for fertilising crops dominated. Only half of the farmers stored manure in appropriate facilities, with 28.5% of them using a dedicated area with cement floors and 21.5% utilising leakproof tanks. The majority (65.7%) stored manure for more than three months before its use as a fertiliser in a dried form. In multiple regression analysis, education level and farming purpose were significant determinants of farmer knowledge. In conclusion, Cypriot farmers' knowledge must be reinforced to ensure proper manure management. The results highlight the importance of providing relevant training to farmers. Although the current practices partially decrease manure pathogens, interventions to promote the use of more effective treatment methods, such as biogas transformation and composting, would be beneficial.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment: Environmental sources, biological effects, remediation techniques, and perspective

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been identified as emerging contaminants, which poses a great threat to human health and ecosystem. Pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, brominated flame retardants, steroid hormones and alkylphenols are representative of this type of contaminant, which are closely related to daily life. Unfortunately, many wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) do not treat EDCs as targets in the normal treatment process, resulting in EDCs entering the environment. Few studies have systematically reviewed the related content of EDCs in terms of occurrence, harm and remediation. For this reason, in this article, the sources and exposure routes of common EDCs are systematically described. The existence of EDCs in the environment is mainly related to human activities (Wastewater discharges and industrial activities). The common hazards of these EDCs are clarified based on available toxicological data. At the same time, the mechanism and effect of some mainstream EDCs remediation technologies (such as adsorption, advanced oxidation, membrane bioreactor, constructed wetland, etc.) are separately mentioned. Moreover, our perspectives are provided for further research of EDCs.

Fate, occurrence, and removal of estrogens in livestock wastewaters

During the last decades, livestock and animal feeding operations have been expanded. In parallel, these activities are among the major sources of estrogens in the environment. Thus, considering the environmental and health risks associated with estrogenic compounds, this work reviews the fate, occurrence, and removal of free and conjugated E1, E2, and E3 in livestock wastewaters. A systematic literature review was carried out, and after applying the eligibility criteria, 66 peer-reviewed papers were selected. Results suggest high estrogen concentrations and, consequently, high estrogenic activity, especially in samples from swine farming. E1 and E2 are frequently found in wastewaters from bovine, swine, and other livestock effluents. Aerobic treatment processes were more efficient for estrogen removal, whereas anaerobic systems seem poorly effective. Removal efficiencies of estrogens and estrogenic activity of up to 90% were reported for constructed wetlands, advanced pond systems, trickling filters, membrane bioreactors, aerated and nitrifying reactors, combined air flotation, and vegetable oil capture processes. High concentrations found in wastewaters from livestock allied to the removal efficiencies reported for anaerobic processes (usually used to treat livestock wastewaters) evidence the importance of monitoring these compounds in environmental matrices.

Insights into the Applications of Extracellular Laccase-Aided Humification in Livestock Manure Composting

Traditional composting is a well-suited biotechnology for on-farm management of livestock manure (LM) but still leads to the release of toxic micropollutants and imbalance of nutrients. One in situ exoenzyme-assisted composting has shown promise to ameliorate the agronomical quality of end products by improving humification and polymerization. The naturally occurring extracellular laccase from microorganisms belongs to a multicopper phenoloxidase, which is verified for its versatility to tackle micropollutants and conserve organics through the reactive radical-enabled decomposition and polymerization channels. Laccase possesses an indispensable relationship with humus formation during LM composting, but its potential applications for the harmless disposal and resource utilization of LM have until now been overlooked. Herein, we review the extracellular laccase-aided humification mechanism and its optimizing strategy to maintain enzyme activity and in situ production, highlighting the critical roles of laccase in treating micropollutants and preserving organics during LM composting. Particularly, the functional effects of the formed humification products by laccase-amended composting on plant growth are also discussed. Finally, the future perspectives and outstanding questions are summarized. This critical review provides fundamental insights into laccase-boosted humification that ameliorates the quality of end products in LM composting, which is beneficial to guide and advance the practical applications of exoenzyme in humification remediation, the carbon cycle, and agriculture protection.

Impact of microbial inoculants combined with humic acid on the fate of estrogens during pig manure composting under low-temperature conditions

To investigate the efficiency of psychrotrophic cellulose-degrading fungal strains (PCDFSs) and estrogen-degrading bacteria (EDBs) combined with humic acid (HA) on estrone (E1) and 17-β-estradiol (E2) degradation, five compost groups (T, HA, EDB, PCDFS, and CK) were prepared and composted for 32 days at 11-14°C. The results indicated that inoculation increased the temperature to 62.2°C and promoted E1 degradation to the lowest level of 100.1 ng/kg, while E2 was undetected from day 16. Metagenomic analysis revealed that inoculation altered the microbial community structure by increasing the abundance of cellulose-degrading fungi, especially Meyerozyma (16.7%) (among PCDFSs), and of estrogen-degrading bacteria, particularly Microbacterium (13.4%) (involved in EDBs). Moreover, inoculation increased the levels (>0.500%) of Gene Ontology (GO) associated with estrogen degradation, like 3-β-hydroxy-delta 5-steroid dehydrogenase and monooxygenase. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that temperature and Microbacterium were positively correlated with estrogen degradation. Structural equation model indicated that temperature and estrogen-degrading bacterial genera exhibited positive, significant (p < 0.001) and direct impacts on estrogen degradation. This is the first study to suggest that applying microbial inoculants and HA could accelerate estrogen degradation during composting in cold regions. The research outcomes offer a practical reference for managing compost safety, thereby decreasing its potential environmental and human health impacts.

Instrumental and bioanalytical assessment of pharmaceuticals and hormone-like compounds in a major drinking water source-wastewater receiving Zayandeh Rood river, Iran

Zayandeh Rood river is the most important river in central Iran supplying water for a variety of uses including drinking water for approximately three million inhabitants. The study aimed to investigate the quality of water concerning the presence of pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) and hormonelike compounds, which have been only poorly studied in this region. Sampling was performed at seven sites along the river (from headwater sites to downstream drinking water source, corresponding drinking water, and treated wastewater) affected by wastewater effluents, specific drought conditions, and high river-water demand. The targeted and nontargeted chemical analyses and in vitro bioassays were used to evaluate the presence of PhACs and hormonelike compounds in river water. In the samples, 57 PhACs and estrogens were detected with LC-MS/MS with the most common and abundant compounds valsartan, carbamazepine, and caffeine present in the highest concentrations in the treated wastewater in the concentrations of 8.4, 19, and 140 μg/L, respectively. A battery of in vitro bioassays detected high estrogenicity, androgenicity, and AhR-mediated activity (viz., in treated wastewater) in the concentrations 24.2 ng/L, 62.2 ng/L, and 0.98 ng/L of 17β-estradiol, dihydrotestosterone and 2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents, respectively. In surface water samples, estrogenicity was detected in the range of <0.42 (LOD) to 1.92 ng/L of 17β-estradiol equivalents, and the drinking water source contained 0.74 ng/L of 17β-estradiol equivalents. About 19% of the estrogenicity could be explained by target chemical analyses, and the remaining estrogenicity can be at least partially attributed to the potentiation effect of detected surfactant residues. Drinking water contained several PhACs and estrogens, but the overall assessment suggested minor human health risk according to the relevant effect-based trigger values. To our knowledge, this study provides some of the first comprehensive information on the levels of PhACs and hormones in Iranian waters.

Monitoring estrogen and androgen residues from livestock farms in Phayao Lake, Thailand

The aim of the present study was to investigate steroid hormone residues from livestock farms and assess their risks to the surface water of Phayao Lake. These steroid hormones are endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), which can be found in natural and synthetic forms. This research focused on examining the residues of seven steroid hormones (five estrogens and two androgens-estrone (E1), 17α-estradiol (αE2), 17β-estradiol (βE2), estriol (E3), 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2), testosterone (T), and 17α-methyltestosterone (MT)) from four types of livestock farms around Phayao Lake, Thailand. The samples collected from the livestock farms included feces, soil, and wastewater and were extracted by the solid phase extraction (SPE) technique and analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The risks from the residual steroid hormones were also characterized by estradiol equivalents (EEQs), testosterone equivalents (TEQs), and risk quotients (RQs). The results indicated that most hormone contamination from the farms' livestock was due to the estrogen hormones E1 (1.38-97.10 ng/g), βE2 (10.08-1366 ng/g), and EE2 (1.50-99.92 ng/g), which originate from the natural excretion and admixture of steroids in feedstock or medicines. Steroid hormones were not detected in the wastewater from cleaning processes on farms with wastewater treatment plants, whereas farms without wastewater treatment plants showed high values of estrogen hormone contamination, with EEQs of 128.8-472.9 ng/L and RQs of 208.3-294.3. However, the analysis of steroid hormone residues in Phayao Lake demonstrated that the residues did not severely affect aquatic organisms (with RQs of 0.002-144.5), and no estrogen or androgen residues were observed in the water treatment plant or tap water.

Natural estrogen emissions to subsurface tile drains from experimental grassland fields in Switzerland after application of livestock slurries and free compounds

Natural estrogens are present in high concentrations in livestock slurries, which are often applied to agricultural fields in large quantities. As such, the export of slurry-derived natural estrogens from tile-drained fields is a potential source for estrogenic pollution in surface waters. Yet despite the abundance of tile-drained fields in Central Europe, export of natural estrogens from agricultural fields receiving livestock slurries is rarely studied in this region. In an effort to fill this knowledge gap, here we applied natural estrogens to Swiss experimental fields in the form of cattle slurry, pig slurry or dissolved in water, and quantified them in flow-proportionally collected drainage water over 18 months. After pig and cattle slurry applications, concentration maxima in drainage water of 73, 8, 37, and 60 ng L^-1 for 17α-estradiol (E2α), 17β-estradiol (E2β), estrone (E1), and estriol (E3), respectively, were observed shortly after rain events. The exported fractions of individual natural estrogens to tile drains were on average 0.26% (ranging from 0.08 to 0.41%) after cattle, and 0.18% (0.03-0.40%) after pig slurry applications. Such numbers were higher than expected from the leaching potential based on substance properties, and comparable to those of more mobile micropollutants previously studied on the same fields. Natural estrogens were mainly exported to tile drains through preferential flow. Exported fractions were lower when applied in aqueous solution than when applied in slurry, pointing to particle-facilitated transport to tile drains when applied in slurry. In Switzerland, the estimated 6.3, 0.6, 7.4, and 7.7 g of E2α, E2β, E1, and E3, respectively, exported through the tile-drained agricultural area per year contribute little to the total natural estrogen load received by surface waters. However, after slurry applications in highly drained catchments, natural estrogen emissions to tile drains can cause short term (i.e. less than 1 week) estrogenic exposure in nearby streams.

Occurrence and removal of 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) in municipal wastewater treatment plants: Current status and challenges

As a synthetic estrogen, 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) has been known to show the strong estrogenic potency. This work critically reviewed the occurrence and removal of EE2 in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Based on the on-site investigations from 282 municipal WWTPs across 29 countries, the concentrations of EE2 in influent and effluent ranged from n.d-7890 and n.d-549 ng/L, with respective average concentrations of 78.4 and 12.3 ng/L. The average effluent concentration of EE2 was more than 61 times higher than the reported lowest-observed-effect concentration, indicating an urgent need for removing EE2 in WWTPs. The calculated removal efficiencies of EE2 in different wastewater treatment processes varied from -100%-100%. Averagely, 47.5% of EE2 was removed in the primary treatment process, 55.3% by biological filter treatment, 59.4% by lagoon and 71.5% by activated sludge process. The observed removal of EE2 in municipal WWTP could be mainly attributed to adsorption and biodegradation, which could be predicted according to its solid-water distribution coefficients and biodegradation rate constants. However, it should be noted that the predicted removal of EE2 was found to deviate from the in-plant observation, likely attributing to the existence of EE2 conjugates in raw municipal wastewater. Therefore, the effect of EE2 conjugates on the EE2 removal in WWTPs should be taken into account in future.

Review on the fate of antimicrobials, antimicrobial resistance genes, and other micropollutants in manure during enhanced anaerobic digestion and composting

While manure has been used as nutrient-rich fertilizer for centuries, anaerobic digestion (AD) of manure has only been recognized recently as a promising renewable energy source for producing methane-rich biogas. Various forms of AD have been evaluated for the removal of manure contaminants, such as antimicrobials, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), hormones, and pesticides that pose risks to human health and the environment. Increasing demand for cleaner energy prompts examination of the fate of manure contaminants in conventional and advanced AD techniques. This review reveals that removal of contaminants differs based on type (e.g. antimicrobials vs hormones) or class (e.g. tetracyclines vs sulfonamides) of chemicals being treated. Increasingly, pre-treatment techniques are incorporated into AD systems to enhance biogas production and degrade manure contaminants. For instance, activated carbon with microwave pretreatment removed 87-95% of ARGs. Advanced anaerobic digestion and solid-state anaerobic digestion reduced various ARGs associated with sulfonamides, macrolides, and tetracyclines. Further, total hormone reduction improved using high-temperature pretreatment prior to mesophilic AD. Finally, several studies revealed partial removal of antimicrobials and ARGs during managed composting. Although AD can independently decrease manure contaminants prior to use as fertilizer, augmenting AD with composting and other physical treatment processes can further enhance their removal.

Effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals in pigs

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds that interfere with the expression, synthesis, and activity of hormones in organisms. They are released into the environment from flame retardants and products containing plasticizers. Persistent pesticides, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorobenzene, also disrupt the endocrine system through interaction with hormone receptors. Endogenous hormones, such as 17β-estradiol (E2), are released in the urine and feces of farm animals and seep into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems through sewage. Pigs are widely used as animal models to determine the effects of EDCs because they are physiologically, biochemically, and histologically similar to humans. EDCs primarily disrupt the reproductive and nervous systems of pigs. Moreover, embryonic development during the prenatal and early postnatal periods is particularly sensitive to EDCs. Mycotoxins, such as zearalenone, are food contaminants that alter hormonal activities in pigs. Mycotoxins also alter the innate immune system in pigs, making them vulnerable to diseases. It has been reported that farm animals are exposed to various types of EDCs, which accumulate in tissues, such as those of gonads, livers, and intestines. There is a lack of an integrated understanding of the impact of EDCs on porcine reproduction and development. Thus, this article aims to provide a comprehensive review of literature regarding the effects of EDCs in pigs.

The relationship between perinatal exposure to dioxins and serum steroid hormone levels in preschool-aged children at an e-waste region in China

Perinatal exposure to dioxins affects steroid hormone synthesis. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the associations between perinatal exposure to dioxins and serum steroid hormone levels in preschool-aged children from an e-waste recycling region in China. In the present study, we enrolled 50 pairs of mothers and infants from the Taizhou, Luqiao region in 2015. Of the 50 pairs of mothers and infants, 42 pairs participated in this study when the children were 4 years old. We measured breast milk dioxin concentrations using high-resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Additionally, we used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to measure the concentrations of progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione (A-dione), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in serum samples from the 4-year-old children. We used multivariate linear regressions to assess the associations between dioxin congeners and steroid hormones. Results were reported as beta estimates and 95% confidence intervals by bootstrapping. We observed sex-related differences between breast milk dioxins and serum steroid hormone levels in 4-year-old children. An increase in breast milk dioxins was associated with a decrease in testosterone in serum samples from boys. Similarly, an increase in breast milk dioxins was associated with a decrease in progesterone levels in serum samples from girls. However, dioxins were not associated with changes in the levels of testosterone, DHEA, or A-dione in girls. Based on these results, we conclude that perinatal exposure to dioxins modifies steroidogenesis in preschool-aged children. However, the long-term impact of dioxins requires further large-scale studies to assess these effects in school-going children and adolescents.

A critical review on antibiotics and hormones in swine wastewater: Water pollution problems and control approaches

Swine wastewater (SW) is an important source of antibiotics and hormones (A&H) in the environment due to their large-scale application in swine industry. A&H in SW can be released into the water environment through the direct discharge of SW, effluent from SW treatment plants, and runoff and leaching from farmland polluted by swine wastes. The presence of A&H in the water environment has become an increasing global concern considering their adverse effects to the aquatic organism and human. This review critically discusses: (i) the occurrence of A&H in global water environment and their potential risks to water organisms and human; (ii) the management and technical approaches for reducing the emission of A&H in SW to the water environment. The development of antibiotic alternatives and the enhanced implementation of vaccination and biosecurity are promising management approaches to cut down the consumption of antibiotics during swine production. Through the comparison of different biological treatment technologies for removing A&H in SW, membrane-based bioprocesses have relatively higher and more stable removal efficiencies. Whereas, the combined system of bioprocesses and AOPs is expected to be a promising technology for elimination and mineralization of A&H in swine wastewater. Further study on this system is therefore necessary.

A review of the occurrence of selected micropollutants and microorganisms in different raw and treated manure - Environmental risk due to antibiotics after application to soil

This study consists of a review based on 104 papers published between 1980 and 2019, which dealt with the occurrence of pharmaceuticals, hormones and a selection of microorganisms in raw and treated manure from different types of animal farms. The selected pharmaceuticals and hormones are those regularly administered to livestock for treating and preventing diseases. Worldwide, manure is commonly spread on soil as a fertilizer due to its nutrient content. However, this practice also represents a potential pathway for micropollutant release into the environment. In this context, this study evaluates the predicted concentrations of some antibiotics in soil after the application of swine slurry on soil and compares them with corresponding measured concentrations found in the literature. Enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline were the antibiotics with the highest concentrations that were found in raw and treated manure and that showed a high risk together with sulfamethazine. Future research should focus on monitoring other pathogens, parent compounds and their main metabolites in raw and treated manure, studying the spread and development of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment due to residues of antibiotics in manure applied to soil, and evaluating predicted no effect concentrations of pharmaceuticals and hormones commonly administered to livestock with regard to terrestrial organisms.

Ecofriendly laccases treatment to challenge micropollutants issue in municipal wastewaters

In this study, a multidisciplinary approach investigated the enzymatic degradation of micropollutants in real, not modified, municipal wastewaters of a plant located in Italy. Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction combined to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric detection (SBSE-GC-MS) was applied to profile targeted pollutants in wastewaters collected after the primary sedimentation (W1) and the final effluent (W2). Fifteen compounds were detected at ng/L - μg/L, including pesticides, personal care products (PCPs) and drugs. The most abundant micropollutants were bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, diethyl phthalate and ketoprofen. Laccases of Trametes pubescens MUT 2400 were very active against all the target micropollutants: except few cases, their concentration was reduced more than 60%. Chemical analysis and environmental risk do not always come together. To verify whether the treated wastewaters can represent a stressor for the aquatic ecosystem, toxicity was also evaluated. Raphidocelis subcapitata and Lepidium sativum tests showed a clear ecotoxicity reduction, even though they did not evenly respond. Two in vitro tests (E-screen test and MELN assay) were used to evaluate the estrogenic activity. Treatments already operating in the plant (e.g. activated sludge) partially reduced the estradiol equivalent concentration, and it was almost negligible after the laccases treatment. The results of this study suggest that laccases of T. pubescens are promising biocatalysts for the micropollutants transformation in wastewaters and surface waters.

Untargeted Metabolite Profiling for Screening Bioactive Compounds in Digestate of Manure under Anaerobic Digestion

Untargeted metabolite profiling was performed on chicken manure (CHM), swine manure (SM), cattle manure (CM), and their respective digestate by XCMS coupled with MetaboAnalyst programs. Through global chemical profiling, the chemical characteristics of different digestates and types of manure were displayed during the anaerobic digestion (AD) process. As the feed for AD, CM had less easily-degradable organics, SM contained the least O-alkyls and anomerics of carbohydrates, and CHM exhibited relatively lower bio-stability. The derived metabolite pathways of different manure during the AD process were identified by MetaboAnalyst. Twelve, 8, and 5 metabolic pathways were affected by the AD process in CHM, SM, and CM, respectively. Furthermore, bioactive compounds of digestate were detected, such as amino acids (L-arginine, L-ornithine, L-cysteine, and L-aspartate), hormones (L-adrenaline, 19-hydroxy androstenedione, and estrone), alkaloids (tryptamine and N-methyltyramine), and vitamin B5, in different types of manure and their digestates. The combination of XCMS and MetaboAnalyst programs can be an effective strategy for metabolite profiling of manure and its anaerobic digestate under different situations.

Attenuation, transport, and management of estrogens: A review

Overabundance of endocrine disruptors (EDs), such as steroid estrogens, in the natural environment disrupts hormone synthesis in aquatic organisms. Livestock and wastewater outflows contribute measurable quantities of steroid estrogens into the environment where they are picked up and transported via surface runoff and feedlot effluents into water matrices. E1, E2β, E2α, E3 and EE2 are the most prevalent estrogens in these environmental systems. Estrogens in soils and water undergo several concurrent attenuation processes including sorption to particles, biotransformation, photo-transformation, and plant uptake. This review summarizes current studies on the attenuation and transport of steroid estrogens with a focus on estrogen attenuation and transport modeling. The authors use this information to synthesize appropriate strategies for reducing estrogenicity in the environment.

Steroids originating from bacterial bile acid degradation affect Caenorhabditis elegans and indicate potential risks for the fauna of manured soils

Bile acids are steroid compounds from the digestive tracts of vertebrates that enter agricultural environments in unusual high amounts with manure. Bacteria degrading bile acids can readily be isolated from soils and waters including agricultural areas. Under laboratory conditions, these bacteria transiently release steroid compounds as degradation intermediates into the environment. These compounds include androstadienediones (ADDs), which are C₁₉-steroids with potential hormonal effects. Experiments with Caenorhabditis elegans showed that ADDs derived from bacterial bile acid degradation had effects on its tactile response, reproduction rate, and developmental speed. Additional experiments with a deletion mutant as well as transcriptomic analyses indicated that these effects might be conveyed by the putative testosterone receptor NHR-69. Soil microcosms showed that the natural microflora of agricultural soil is readily induced for bile acid degradation accompanied by the transient release of steroid intermediates. Establishment of a model system with a Pseudomonas strain and C. elegans in sand microcosms indicated transient release of ADDs during the course of bile acid degradation and negative effects on the reproduction rate of the nematode. This proof-of-principle study points at bacterial degradation of manure-derived bile acids as a potential and so-far overlooked risk for invertebrates in agricultural soils.

Analyzing a broader spectrum of endocrine active organic contaminants in sewage sludge with high resolution LC-QTOF-MS suspect screening and QSAR toxicity prediction

Endocrine active contaminants (EACs) in environmental samples can pose a range of toxicological threats to ecosystems, especially through their impacts on reproductive pathways mediated by the estrogen receptor. The physicochemical properties of known organic EACs vary greatly and typically require different sample preparation techniques to identify different classes of compounds. EAC sources are similarly diverse, including both endogenous compounds and anthropogenic chemicals found in personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and their transformation products, which are often disposed of to sewers at their end of use. Looking for EACs in sewage sludge proposes a bottom-up, or end-of-use and treatment approach to discover environmentally relevant EACs, since many EACs accumulate in sludges even after application of robust wastewater treatment processes. This study demonstrates an extraction and analytical method capable of detecting a broad spectrum of known and suspected EACs via High Resolution Liquid Chromatography Quadropole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) suspect screening of fourteen California sewage sludge samples. Spike-recovery experiments were performed using twelve carefully selected surrogates to assess different extraction solvents, sample weights, extraction pH values, procedures for combining extracts with different extraction pH's, and solid phase extraction cartridges. Using LC-QTOF-MS, identifications of several other organic compounds in the samples were made, a goal unachievable with unit resolution mass spectrometry. Suspect screening of California sludge samples discovered 118 compounds including hormones, pharmaceuticals, phosphate flame retardants, recreational drugs, antimicrobials, and pesticides. Additionally, 22 of these identified compounds are predicted to interfere with estrogen receptors or other reproductive/developmental pathways based on the VEGA QSAR toxicity prediction model.

Fate and transport of estrogenic compounds in an integrated swine manure treatment systems combining algal-bacterial bioreactor and hydrothermal processes for improved water quality

An integrated manure treatment system, including a mixed algal-bacterial bioreactor (MABB) and hydrothermal processing of biomass solids, was found to remove 76.4-97.0% of the total estrogenic hormones (estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3)) from the liquid portion of animal manure (LPAM). The mixed biomass was converted into either biocrude oil with a yield up to 40% via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) or syngas with a yield up to 54% yield via catalytic hydrothermal gasification (CHG). Adding granular activated carbon (GAC) in the MABB enhanced the removal of estrogenic hormones (+ 7.2%), cytotoxicity (+ 58%), and heavy metals (+ 10.5%). After the integrated system with the MABB, HTL, and CHG processes, the overall percent removal of heavy metals from the LPAM ranged from 27.1 to 40.3%. The concentrations of potentially toxic heavy metals (lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr)) in the aqueous phase after HTL and CHG tests ranged from 0.01 to 25.3 mg/L.

Syringe cleanup with UHPLC-MS/MS for nitroimidazoles and steroids detection in manure-based fertilizers

A syringe-dispersive solid-phase extraction method was developed for the determination of seven nitroimidazoles and nine steroids in manure-based fertilizers by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Methanol and acetonitrile were used to extract the sample, and mixed dispersive sorbents dispersed in the syringe were used for purification. The extract was separated with an HSS-T3 column and detected in positive or negative multiple reaction monitoring mode. Under the optimal conditions, the recoveries of the 16 compounds ranged from 70.3 to 112.3% at the four spiked levels (3, 10, 20, and 50 μg/kg) and the relative standard deviations ranged from 1.0 to 12.4%. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.22-0.86 and 0.73-2.87 μg/kg, respectively. This method is simple, fast, and reliable, and can be used to simultaneously screen and determine nitroimidazoles and steroids in manure-based fertilizers.

Using agro-industrial wastes for the cultivation of microalgae and duckweeds: Contamination risks and biomass safety concerns

Aquatic organisms, such as microalgae (Chlorella, Arthrospira (Spirulina), Tetrasselmis, Dunalliela etc.) and duckweed (Lemna spp., Wolffia spp. etc.) are a potential source for the production of protein-rich biomass and for numerous other high-value compounds (fatty acids, pigments, vitamins etc.). Their cultivation using agro-industrial wastes and wastewater (WaW) is of particular interest in the context of a circular economy, not only for recycling valuable nutrients but also for reducing the requirements for fresh water for the production of biomass. Recovery and recycling of nutrients is an unavoidable long-term approach for securing future food and feed production. Agro-industrial WaW are rich in nutrients and have been widely considered as a potential nutrient source for the cultivation of microalgae/duckweed. However, they commonly contain various hazardous contaminants, which could potentially taint the produced biomass, raising various concerns about the safety of their consumption. Herein, an overview of the most important contaminants, including heavy metals and metalloids, pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites etc.), and xenobiotics (hormones, antibiotics, parasiticides etc.) is given. It is concluded that pretreatment and processing of WaW is a requisite step for the removal of several contaminants. Among the various technologies, anaerobic digestion (AD) is widely used in practice and offers a technologically mature approach for WaW treatment. During AD, various organic and biological contaminants are significantly removed. Further removal of contaminants could be achieved by post-treatment and processing of digestates (solid/liquid separation, dilution etc.) to further decrease the concentration of contaminants. Moreover, during cultivation an additional removal may occur through various mechanisms, such as precipitation, degradation, and biotransformation. Since many jurisdictions regulate the presence of various contaminants in feed or food setting strict safety monitoring processes, it would be of particular interest to initiate a multi-disciplinary discussion whether agro-industrial WaW ought to be used to cultivate microalgae/duckweed for feed or food production and identify most feasible options for doing this safely. Based on the current body of knowledge it is estimated that AD and post-treatment of WaW can lower significantly the risks associated with heavy metals and pathogens, but it is yet unclear to what extent this is the case for certain persistent xenobiotics.

Bioprocessing for elimination antibiotics and hormones from swine wastewater

Antibiotics and hormones in swine wastewater have become a critical concern worldwide due to the severe threats to human health and the eco-environment. Removal of most detectable antibiotics and hormones, such as sulfonamides (SAs), SMs, tetracyclines (TCs), macrolides, and estrogenic hormones from swine wastewater utilizing various biological processes were summarized and compared. In biological processes, biosorption and biodegradation are the two major removal mechanisms for antibiotics and hormones. The residuals in treated effluents and sludge of conventional activated sludge and anaerobic digestion processes can still pose risks to the surrounding environment, and the anaerobic processes' removal efficiencies were inferior to those of aerobic processes. In contrast, membrane bioreactors (MBRs), constructed wetlands (CWs) and modified processes performed better because of their higher biodegradation of toxicants. Process modification on activated sludge, anaerobic digestion and conventional MBRs could also enhance the performance (e.g. removing up to 98% SMs, 88.9% TCs, and 99.6% hormones from wastewater). The hybrid process combining MBRs with biological or physical technology also led to better removal efficiency. As such, modified conventional biological processes, advanced biological technologies and MBR hybrid systems are considered as a promising technology for removing toxicants from swine wastewater.

Modeling the fate and transport of 17β-estradiol in the South River watershed in Virginia

Hormones excreted by livestock metabolisms often enter surface water through feces and urine and can potentially cause adverse impacts to aquatic biota. This study involved a modeling analysis of 17β-estradiol (E2), a prevalent estrogen, in the South River watershed located in Augusta County, Virginia from 2013 to 2015. Cattle manure, poultry litter, biosolids, septic systems, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were considered as sources of E2 in this study. The EPA's BASINS modeling framework was configured to track the fate and transport of E2. The first-order kinetics and the wash-off model were adopted to characterize the attenuation and the transport of E2. The modeling results indicated that the flow rate was a major input affecting the simulated E2 levels in the water. During storm events, E2 on the land surface was transported into the rivers by the surface runoff and the E2 released into streams was diluted by the high water flow. Variations of the simulated E2 concentrations in the South River depended on the relative magnitudes of the loads from point and nonpoint sources. Modeling results showed that E2 levels in the South River were below the lowest observable effect level (LOEL) for fish. However, the practices of storing manure before land application and fencing off rivers to keep cattle out of the water are encouraged to prevent the potential for high E2 levels in streams receiving feedlot runoff.

Androgens and androgenic activity in broiler manure assessed by means of chemical analyses and in vitro bioassays

The use of manure as an agricultural amendment is increasing the release of steroid hormones into the environment. Most research in this field has focused on estrogenic phenomena, with less attention paid to androgenic substances. The present study assessed androgenic activity in broiler manure using in vitro approaches based on cells stably transfected with androgen receptor. Leaching experiments were also performed to observe whether endocrine disruptors present in manure pass through a soil column and potentially reach groundwater. In parallel, an analytical chemistry method was used to determine the contribution of the most important natural androgens to androgenicity. Samplings were performed at 4 farms in 2 seasons. All but 2 samples showed androgen activity. In leakage experiments, however, no androgenic activity was detectable in leachates or in soils after leaching. According to the analytical results, androgenicity can be attributed mainly (but not completely) to androstenedione, and dihydrotestosterone. Similarly to the bioassays, chemical analysis did not reveal the presence of any androgen in leachates or soils. These results point to a rapid degradation of the substances responsible for androgenic activity in soils under the experimental conditions of the present study. However, the long-term effects associated with the constant and intensive application of manure to agricultural land require further attention. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1746-1754. © 2016 SETAC.

Remediation efficiency of three treatments on water polluted with endocrine disruptors: Assessment by means of in vitro techniques

Chemical substances with potential to disrupt endocrine systems have been detected in aquatic environments worldwide, making necessary the investigation about water treatments able to inhibit such potential. The present work aimed to assess the efficiency for removing endocrine disruptors (with estrogenic and androgenic activity) of three simple and inexpensive substrates that could be potentially used in sectors or regions with limited resources: powdered activated carbon (PAC), powdered natural zeolite (ZEO) (both at a concentration of 500 mg L^-1) and natural aquatic humic substances (AHS) (at 30 mg L^-1). MilliQ-water and mature water from fish facilities (aquarium water, AW), were artificially spiked with 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethinylestradiol and dihydrotestosterone. Moreover, effluent samples from waste water treatment plants (WWTP) were also submitted to the remediation treatments. Estrogenic and androgenic activities were assessed with two cell lines permanently transfected with luciferase as reporter gene under the control of hormone receptors: AR-EcoScreen containing the human androgen receptor and HER-LUC transfected with the sea bass estrogen receptor. PAC was efficiently removing the estrogenic and androgenic compounds added to milliQ and AW. However, androgenic activity detected in WWTP effluents was only reduced after treatment with ZEO. The higher surface area of PAC could have facilitated the removal of spiked hormones in clean waters. However, it is possible that the substances responsible of the hormonal activity in WWTP have adsorbed to micro and nanoparticles present in suspension that would have been retained with higher efficiency by ZEO that show pores of several microns in size.

Veterinary pharmaceuticals in aqueous systems and associated effects: an update

Environmental studies have shown that pharmaceuticals can contaminate aqueous matrices, such as groundwater, surface water, sediment as well as aquatic flora and fauna. Effluents from sewage and wastewater treatment plants, pharmaceutical industries and hospitals have been implicated in such contamination. Recent studies have however revealed significant concentrations of pharmaceuticals in wastewater from animal facilities in proximal aquatic habitats. Furthermore, epidemiological studies have shown a consistent positive correlation between exposure to some drugs of veterinary importance and increased adverse effects in aquatic biota largely due to induction of endocrine disruption, antibiotic resistance, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative stress. The aquatic habitats and associated biota are important in the maintenance of global ecosystem and food chain. For this reason, anything that compromises the integrity and functions of the aquatic environment may lead to major upset in the world's ecosystems. Therefore, knowledge about this route of exposure cannot be neglected and monitoring of their occurrence in the environment is required. This review focuses on scientific evidence that link the presence of pharmaceuticals in aqueous matrices to animal production facilities and presents means to reduce the occurrence of veterinary pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic habitats.

Endocrine Disruptors in Domestic Animal Reproduction: A Clinical Issue?

Contents The objective of this review was to discuss whether endocrine disruption is a clinical concern in domestic animal reproduction. To that end, we firstly summarize the phenomenon of endocrine disruption, giving examples of the agents of concern and their effects on the mammalian reproductive system. Then there is a brief overview of the literature on endocrine disruptors and domestic animal reproduction. Finally, the clinical implications of endocrine disruptors on the reproductive system of farm animals as well as in dogs and cats are discussed. It is concluded that the evidence for clinical cases of endocrine disruption by chemical pollutants is weak, whereas for phytooestrogens, it is well established. However, there is concern that particular dogs and cats may be exposed to man-made endocrine disruptors.

Chemical and biological assessment of endocrine disrupting chemicals in a full scale dairy manure anaerobic digester with thermal pretreatment

Concentrated animal feeding operations are important sources of estrogens and their conjugates, which are introduced into the environment through manure land application. In this study, concentrations of estrogens were measured in an anaerobic co-digestion system with thermal pasteurization pretreatment. Free estrogens (estrone (E1), 17α-estradiol (E2α), 17β-estradiol (E2β), estriol (E3)) were analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and conjugated estrogens (sulfate- and glucuronide-conjugates) were analyzed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Additionally, yeast estrogen screen assay was used to determine the estrogenic potential of the manure. The total hormone concentrations (mainly E1, E2α, E2β, and sulfated estrogens) were observed at concentrations up to a total of 7100ng/L in the liquid fraction, while free estrogen levels were 630ng/kg in the solid fraction of the untreated manure. The total hormone concentration did not decrease significantly during digestion, however, the relative composition of the estrogens changed from E2α (65%) being the predominant species before digestion to mostly E1 (72%) after digestion. This conversion process has important implications because E1 is more estrogenic than E2α. Total E2 equivalents associated with E1, E2α and E2β concentrations as determined by GC/MS indicate that E1 is the most important contributor to the endocrine-disruption activity of the treated manure.

Changes in reproductive physiology of mangrove rivulus Kryptolebias marmoratus following exposure to environmentally relevant doses of ethinyl oestradiol

Kryptolebias marmoratus exposed to 4 ng l(-1) of ethinyl oestradiol (EE2) for 30 days experienced significant changes in endogenous 17β-oestradiol (E2) and 11-ketotestosterone (KT) and qualitative changes in gonad morphology. Both hermaphrodites and males showed a significant decrease in E2, whereas only males exhibited a significant decrease in KT. Exposure to EE2 resulted in a decrease in spermatid and spermatocyte density in males and an increase in the number of early stage oocytes in hermaphrodites.

Estrogenic contamination by manure fertilizer in organic farming: a case study with the lizard Podarcis sicula

In the last years, worldwide organic farming has grown exponentially; as a consequence, the use of animal manure as a soil fertility source has become the principal agricultural choice. However, the use of manure as fertilizer can increase the amount of steroid hormone metabolites in the soil. In southern Italy, lacertidae lizards are the most abundant vertebrate group in agroecosystems and have been identified as potential model species for ecotoxicological studies. The aim of this study was to understand if the manure applied in organic farming has estrogen-like effects in the lizard Podarcis sicula. Adult male lizards were captured in two organic agricultural fields (manure-treated sites) and in an uncultivated field (control site). Lizards from the two organic farms displayed hepatic biosynthetic alterations typical of an estrogenic contamination; hepatocytes contained both vitellogenin and estrogen receptor alpha transcripts and proteins, detected by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. The same cells did not show cadmium, lead and metallothionein accumulation, indicative of the lack of inorganic contamination. These findings suggest that exogenous estrogens, arising from the use of manure, could affect the welfare of wild animals and animal breeding, leading to bioaccumulation of estrogens in food chain, with possible risk for human consumers. For this reason, organic farming should implement the use of sustainable practices such as crop rotation to preserve the soil biological activity, rather than organic manure as fertilizer.

Occurrence and fate of endocrine disrupting chemicals in ASP based sewage treatment plant in Hardwar

The occurrence of emerging contaminants such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in our water resources is of prime concern. With this context, fate and seasonal variation of six EDCs (testosterone, T; progesterone, P; diethyl phthalate, DEP; dibutyl phthalate, DBP; propyl-paraben, PP and butyl-paraben, BP) were assessed throughout the year, i.e. in rainy, winter, spring and summer seasons in the raw, treated wastewater and activated sludge in an activated sludge process (ASP) based sewage treatment plant (STP) located in Haridwar, India. Qualitative and quantitative measurements were performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Results indicate that in summer, the examined STP could effectively remove 82.9% of T, 86.4% of P, 95.5% of DEP, 92.4% of DBP, 91.5% of PP, and 89.9% of BP from the wastewater. Among the EDCs considered, higher removal efficiencies were achieved for phthalates in the summer season. GC-MS analysis showed that a small fraction of EDCs was sorbed on the solid fraction of activated sludge. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy analysis were also performed to investigate the occurrence of EDCs in biomass samples. Results of this study also demonstrated that removal efficiency, assessed in terms of physicochemical and microbiological parameters, was maximum in summer and reached minimum in rainy season.

Trace organic contaminants in biosolids: Impact of conventional wastewater and sludge processing technologies and emerging alternatives

This paper critically reviews the fate of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) in biosolids, with emphasis on identifying operation conditions that impact the accumulation of TrOCs in sludge during conventional wastewater and sludge treatment and assessing the technologies available for TrOC removal from biosolids. The fate of TrOCs during sludge thickening, stabilisation (e.g. aerobic digestion, anaerobic digestion, alkaline stabilisation, and composting), conditioning, and dewatering is elucidated. Operation pH, sludge retention time (SRT), and temperature have significant impact on the sorption and biodegradation of TrOCs in activated sludge that ends up in the sludge treatment line. Anaerobic digestion may exacerbate the estrogenicity of sludge due to bioconversion to more potent metabolites. Application of advanced oxidation or thermal pre-treatment may minimise TrOCs in biosolids by increasing the bioavailability of TrOCs, converting TrOCs into more biodegradable products, or inducing complete mineralisation of TrOCs. Treatment of sludge by bioaugmentation using various bacteria, yeast, or fungus has the potential to reduce TrOC levels in biosolids.

Development and assessment of a novel Arxula adeninivorans androgen screen (A-YAS) assay and its application in analysis of cattle urine

The novel A-YAS assay for the detection of androgenic activity in liquid samples such as urine has been developed and assessed. The assay is based on transgenic Arxula adeninivorans yeast cells as the bio-component. The cells were engineered to co-express the human androgen receptor (hAR) gene and the inducible phytase reporter gene (phyK, derived from Klebsiella sp. ASR1), under the control of an Arxula derived glucoamylase (GAA) promoter, which had been modified by the insertion of hormone-responsive elements (HREs). The Arxula transformation/expression platform Xplor®2 was used to select stable mitotic resistance marker free transformants and the most suitable cells were characterized for performance as a sensor bio-component. The assay is easy-to-use, fast (6-25 h) and is currently the most sensitive yeast-based androgen screen with an EC50, limit of detection and of quantification values for 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) of 277.1±53.0, 56.5±4.1 and 76.5±6.7 ng L(-1), respectively. Furthermore, the assay allows the determination of androgenic and anti-androgenic activity of various compounds such as naturally occurring androgens and estrogens, pharmaceuticals and biocides. The robustness of the A-YAS assay enables it to be used for analysis of complex samples such as urine. The results of the analysis of a number of cattle urine samples achieved by the A-YAS assay correlate well with GC-MS analysis of the same samples.

Occurrence of 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) in the environment and effect on exposed biota: a review

17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) is a synthetic hormone, which is a derivative of the natural hormone, estradiol (E2). EE2 is an orally bio-active estrogen, and is one of the most commonly used medications for humans as well as livestock and aquaculture activity. EE2 has become a widespread problem in the environment due to its high resistance to the process of degradation and its tendency to (i) absorb organic matter, (ii) accumulate in sediment and (iii) concentrate in biota. Numerous studies have reported the ability of EE2 to alter sex determination, delay sexual maturity, and decrease the secondary sexual characteristics of exposed organisms even at a low concentration (ng/L) by mimicking its natural analogue, 17β-estradiol (E2). Thus, the aim of this review is to provide an overview of the science regarding EE2, the concentration levels in the environment (water, sediment and biota) and summarize the effects of this compound on exposed biota at various concentrations, stage life, sex, and species. The challenges in respect of EE2 include the extension of the limited database on the EE2 pollution profile in the environment, its fate and transport mechanism, as well as the exposure level of EE2 for better prediction and definition revision of EE2 toxicity end points, notably for the purpose of environmental risk assessment.

Estrogen degradation and sorption onto colloids in a constructed wetland with different hydraulic retention times

Endocrine disrupting compounds are a global concern, owing to their interference with the endocrine system of wildlife. In particular, natural estrogens at concentrations as low as ng/L level can interrupt the endocrine system of many organisms. A constructed wetland is an effective means of removing the residual levels of estrogen. This study investigates the estrogen degradation and sorption on colloids in a constructed wetland at hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 27.5, 45.9, and 137.5h. Three natural estrogens (i.e. estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3)) are analyzed with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. At HRT=27.5h, no degradation occurs; at HRT=45.9h, the degradation rates are 0-46.2%; and at HRT=137.5h, the degradation rates are 40-84.3%. Additionally, estrogen sorption coefficients (logKCOC values) range from 3.37 to 4.89. Average logKCOC values are 4.08±0.33, 4.04±0.34, and 4.11±0.28 for E1, E2, and E3, respectively. At different HRTs, values of logKCOC increase with an increasing HRT. Analytical results indicate that constructed wetlands can remove residual natural estrogens. With an increasing HRT, the estrogen degradation rate increases as well as the estrogen sorption on colloids.

Occurrence and removal of free estrogens, conjugated estrogens, and bisphenol A in manure treatment facilities in East China

The occurrence of four free estrogens, four conjugated estrogens, and bisphenol A (BPA) was investigated in three cow farms, four swine farms, and five chicken farms. The daily total estrogen (free and conjugated) excretions of a cow were 145.23-179.27 μg/d mainly through feces (92%), while swine excreted 42.56-219.25 μg/d of estrogens mainly through urine (98-99%). Estrogen conjugates contributed 14.6-48.8% to the total estrogen excretions in cow feces and more than 98% in swine urine. A chicken excreted 0.66-12.78 μg/d of total estrogens through feces, among which 34.2-100% was contributed by conjugated estrogens. The total estrogen removal efficiencies of manure anaerobic digesters and composters were 14.7-21.8% and less than 70.1%, respectively. Estrogens (E1, 17β-E2, E1-3S, and E2-3S) still existed in treated manure at concentrations up to 2695 ± 181 ng/L (anaerobic digestate) and at contents up to 80.8 ± 6.0 ng/g (compost). BPA was found in feces and compost samples at similar contents (nd-25 ng/g), and approximately 60-70% of BPA was removed in wastewater treatment facilities.

Occurrence of free estrogens, conjugated estrogens, and bisphenol A in fresh livestock excreta and their removal by composting in North China

An efficient pretreatment and analytical method was developed to investigate the occurrence and fate of four free estrogens (estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), estriol (E3), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2)), four conjugated estrogens (estrone-3-sulfate sodium salt (E1-3S), 17β-estradiol-3-sulfate sodium salt (E2-3S), estrone-3-glucuronide sodium salt (E1-3G), and 17β-estradiol-3-glucuronide sodium salt (E2-3G)), and bisphenol A (BPA) in three livestock farms raising beef cattle, cows, sheep, swine, and chickens in Qi County, which is located in North China. The results demonstrated that one cow and one beef cattle excreted 956.25-1,270.41 and 244.38-319.99 μg/day of total (free and conjugated) estrogen, respectively, primarily through feces (greater than 91%), while swine excreted 260.09-289.99 μg/day of estrogens, primarily through urine (98-99%). The total estrogen excreted in sheep and broiler chicken feces was calculated to be 21.64-28.67 and 4.62-5.40 μg/day, respectively. It was determined that conjugated estrogens contributed to 21.1-21.9% of the total estrogen excreted in cow feces and more than 98% of the total estrogen excreted in swine urine. After composting, the concentration of total estrogen decreased by 18.7-59.6%; however, increased levels of BPA were measured. In treated compost samples, estrogens were detected at concentrations up to 74.0 ng/g, which indicates a potential risk of estrogens entering the surrounding environment.

Single and competitive adsorption of 17α-ethinylestradiol and bisphenol A with estrone, β-estradiol, and estriol onto sediment

The competitive adsorption of bisphenol A (BPA) and17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) with different endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), such as estrone (E1), β-estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3) was investigated in the water-sediment system. The primary and interaction effects of coexisted EDCs on the adsorption of BPA and EE2 were studied in binary and multiple systems. The adsorption selectivity of sediment at different initial concentrations of EDCs was also considered, based on the distribution coefficient (β). In binary systems, coexisted EDCs exhibited a positive effect on the adsorption of BPA, while E3 showed a negative effect on the adsorption of EE2. In ternary systems, the interaction of E1*E3 and E2*BPA showed a synergistic effect on the sorption of BPA and EE2, respectively. In quaternary systems, the interaction of E1*E2*E3 showed a synergistic effect on the adsorption of both BPA and EE2. In the quinary system, coexisted EDCs all showed an antagonistic effect on the adsorption of BPA and EE2, which indicated that the coexisted EDCs competed for adsorption with BPA and EE2. EDCs in the E2-EE2-BPA system presented a superior selectivity of sediment with β values of 43.48–87.86. The order of sediment selectivity (E1 > EE2 > E2 > E3 > BPA) in binary systems was in agreement with EDCs’ adsorption capacity, which suggested that the adsorption was dominated by partition adsorption.

Estimating estrogen release and load from humans and livestock in shanghai, china

The estrogens estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) cause potent endocrine disruptive effects on aquatic wildlife. Currently, four sources of released estrogens exist in Shanghai: treated effluent from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WTPs); wastewater discharge from livestock farms; untreated or simply digested sewage from rural households; and runoff from farmland with livestock manure (LM) applied and irrigated with livestock wastewater (LW). A modified estimation method for estrogen release, in consideration of the difference in estrogen excretion rates between Caucasian and Oriental people and estrogen reduction in livestock wastes, was presented in the study. Based on the estimation method, we estimated the amount of estrogen release from humans and livestock and analyzed the spatially explicit distribution of estrogen loads. By comparing the four estrogen sources, the amount of estrogens released to water environments from livestock (56.8 g d), in terms of E2 equivalents (EEQ), was nearly twofold higher than the EEQ from humans (35.2 g d), which accounted for 61.0% of the total EEQ in Shanghai. Regarding the livestock EEQ, land-applied and irrigated EEQ via surface runoff to water environments (0.11 g d) was obviously low compared with the EEQ of LW directly released into adjacent waterways (56.7 g d). Therefore, the LW was the major contributor to estrogenic risk to the water environment in Shanghai. The spatial distribution of estrogen loads indicated that the highest EEQ loads were in the southern region of Pudong New Area and the eastern and central regions of Fengxian District.

Anaerobic digestion characteristics of pig manures depending on various growth stages and initial substrate concentrations in a scaled pig farm in Southern China

The characteristics of anaerobic digestion of pig manure from different growth stages were investigated. According to growth stage, batch experiments were performed using gestating sow manure (GSM), swine nursery with post-weaned piglet manure (SNM), growing fattening manure (GFM) and mixed manure (MM) as substrates at four substrate concentrations (40, 50, 65 and 80gVS/L) under mesophilic conditions. The maximum methane yields of MM, SNM, GSM and GFM were 354.7, 328.7, 282.4 and 263.5mLCH4/gVSadded, respectively. Volatile fatty acids/total inorganic carbon (VFA/TIC) ratio increased from 0.10 to 0.89 when loading increased from 40 to 80gVS/L for GFM. The modified Gompertz model shows a better fit to the experimental results than the first order model with a lower difference between measured and predicted methane yields. The kinetic parameters indicated that the methane production curve on the basis of differences in biodegradability of the pig manure at different growth stages.

In vitro assessment of thyroidal and estrogenic activities in poultry and broiler manure

Among the many chemicals found in avian manure, endocrine disruptors (EDs), of natural or anthropogenic origin, are of special environmental concern. Nowadays, an increasing amount of estrogens is being released into the environment via the use of manure to fertilize agricultural land. While most research in this field has focused on estrogenic phenomena, little is known about alterations related to other endocrine systems, such as the thyroidal one. Here we simultaneously assessed the potential estrogenic and thyroidal activity of poultry and broiler litter manure using in vitro approaches based on estrogen receptor (Er) and thyroid receptor (Tr) transactivation assays. In addition, leaching experiments were performed to assess whether the EDs present in the manure pass through a soil column and potentially reach the groundwater. Manure from four broiler and four poultry farms was collected in two sampling campaigns carried out in two seasons (fall and spring). Extracts from broiler and poultry manure exhibited strong thyroidal activity. Only poultry manure showed estrogenic activity, which is consistent with the low levels of estrogens expected in hatchlings. Leakage experiments were performed in columns with two kinds of arable soils: sandy and loamy. No estrogenicity or thyroidal activity was detectable in soils treated with the manure or in the corresponding leachates. These results indicate that substances with estrogenic or thyroidal activity were degraded in the soil under our experimental conditions. However, the long-term effects associated with the constant and intensive application of manure to agricultural land in some regions require further research.

Input and leaching potential of copper, zinc, and selenium in agricultural soil from swine slurry

Trace elements, such as copper, zinc, and selenium, used as feed additives were determined in samples of both fresh (N = 14) and anaerobically digested (N = 6) swine slurry collected on medium- to large-size farms in northeast Spain. Considering both fresh and anaerobically digested samples, mean concentrations of zinc (1,500 mg kg(-1) dry mass [dm]) were greater than those of copper (mean 239 mg kg(-1 )dm), and the selenium concentrations detected were even lower (mean 139 μg kg(-1) dm). Zinc concentrations were significantly greater in anaerobically digested samples, whereas no significant differences were found for copper or selenium. In addition, the leaching potential of zinc, copper, and selenium in cropped (lettuce heart) and uncropped experimental units subject to drip irrigation was assessed in a greenhouse experiment. Generally, the addition of swine slurry to soil (1.7 g kg(-1) dm) significantly increased zinc, copper, and selenium concentrations in leachates, which decreased in accordance with the volume of leachate eluted. Under the experimental conditions, the leaching potential of zinc and selenium was more strongly correlated with bulk parameters directly associated with the composition of the pig slurry (dissolved organic carbon, electrical conductivity, and ammonium), whereas copper mobility was more strongly associated with the crop root exudates. Although selenium has been shown to be mobile in soil, the selenium content found in the leachates did not pose any appreciable risk according to current drinking water standards.

Comprehensive assessment of hormones, phytoestrogens, and estrogenic activity in an anaerobic swine waste lagoon

In this study, the distribution of steroid hormones, phytoestrogens, and estrogenic activity was thoroughly characterized within the anaerobic waste lagoon of a typical commercial swine sow operation. Three independent rounds of sampling were conducted in June 2009, April 2010, and February 2011. Thirty-seven analytes in lagoon slurry and sludge were assessed using LC/MS-MS, and yeast estrogen screen was used to determine estrogenic activity. Of the hormone analytes, steroidal estrogens were more abundant than androgens or progesterone, with estrone being the predominant estrogen species. Conjugated hormones were detected only at low levels. The isoflavone metabolite equol was by far the predominant phytoestrogen species, with daidzein, genistein, formononetin, and coumestrol present at lower levels. Phytoestrogens were often more abundant than steroidal estrogens, but contributed minimally toward total estrogenic activity. Analytes were significantly elevated in the solid phases of the lagoon; although low observed log KOC values suggest enhanced solubility in the aqueous phase, perhaps due to dissolved or colloidal organic carbon. The association with the solid phase, as well as recalcitrance of analytes to anaerobic degradation, results in a markedly elevated load of analytes and estrogenic activity within lagoon sludge. Overall, findings emphasize the importance of adsorption and transformation processes in governing the fate of these compounds in lagoon waste, which is ultimately used for broadcast application as a fertilizer.

Biogas final digestive byproduct applied to croplands as fertilizer contains high levels of steroid hormones

In this study we evaluate and demonstrate the occurrence of nine natural and one synthetic steroid hormone, including estrogens, androgens and progestagens in biogas final digestate byproduct (digestion liquid) commonly used as an agricultural fertilizer. We investigated two biogas sites that utilize different anaerobic digestion technologies (mesophilic and thermophilic) from swine manure and other organic wastes. Individual hormone concentration levels were observed up to 1478 ng g(-1) dry weight or 22.5 mg kg(-1) N with estrone and progesterone reaching highest concentration levels. Evaluation of the potential environmental burden through the application in agriculture was also assessed on the basis of predicted environmental concentrations. This study indicates that the biogas digestion process does not completely remove steroid hormones from livestock manure and use of final digestate byproduct on croplands contributes to the environmental emission of hormones.