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Risks of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Discharges from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
Project Summary
There are an estimated 1.3 million farms holding livestock in USA. About 238,000 of these farms are considered concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). CAFOs annually produce more than 500 million tons of animal waste that could pose substantial risks to the environment and public health. At present, there is evidence that CAFO waste has a potential to introduce hormonally-active materials into surface and ground waters, as well as (through manure applications) to terrestrial systems.
Our overall goal is to characterize the magnitude and extent of the impact of estrogenic and androgenic hormones in waste from CAFOs and determine the impact of current CAFO waste management strategies on the fate and effects of hormones. We are currently collaborating with multiple EPA researchers (NERL, NRMRL, NHEERL) and extramural researchers funded through the NCER STAR grants program to achieve the following:
- Develop robust in vitro and analytical methods to identify and quantify compounds responsible for endocrine activity of CAFOs.
- Identify ecologically-relevant biomarkers of exposure to CAFO-derived estrogenic/androgenic chemicals.
- Evaluate the environmental fate, transport, and metabolism of CAFO-derived hormones relative to occurrence in surface and ground waters.
- Assess possible ecological impacts of EDCs from CAFOs using a combination of laboratory and field studies.
- Evaluate capability of existing risk management technologies for CAFOs to reduce exposure to EDCs.
- Characterize the magnitude and extent of the impact of hormones released by CAFOs and determine the impact of current CAFO waste management strategies on the fate and effects of hormones.
Key products
Durhan, E.J., C.S. Lambright, E.A. Makynen, J. Lazorchak, P.C. Hartig, V.S. Wilson, L.E. Gray, and G.T. Ankley. 2006. Identification of metabolites of trenbolone acetate in androgenic runoff from a beef feedlot. Environmental Health Perspectives 114(Suppl.1):65-8.
Jensen, K.M., E.A. Makynen, M.D. Kahl, and G.T. Ankley. 2006. Effects of the feedlot contaminant 17alpha-trenbolone on reproductive endocrinology of the fathead minnow. Environmental Science & Technology 40:3112-7.
Miller, D.H. and G.T. Ankley. 2004. Modeling impacts on populations: Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) exposure to the endocrine disruptor 17beta-trenbolone as a case study. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 59:1-9.
Ankley, G.T., K.M. Jensen, E.A. Makynen, M.D. Kahl, J.J. Korte, M.W. Hornung, T.R. Henry, J.S. Denny, R.L. Leino, V.S. Wilson, M.C. Cardon, P.C. Hartig, and L.E. Gray. 2003. Effects of the androgenic growth promoter 17-beta-trenbolone on fecundity and reproductive endocrinology of the fathead minnow. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22:1350-60.
Ankley, G.T., K.M. Jensen, M.D. Kahl, J.J. Korte, and E.A. Makynen. 2001. Description and evaluation of a short-term reproduction test with the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20:1276-90.
Project personnel
| Name | Phone | |
| Gerald Ankley | ankley.gerald@epa.gov | 218-529-5147 |
| Lindsey Blake | blake.lindsey@epa.gov | 218-529-5237 |
| Elizabeth Durhan | durhan.elizabeth@epa.gov | 218-529-5167 |
| Kathleen Jensen | jensen.kathleen@epa.gov | 218-529-5177 |
Research project update date
February 28, 2008