| Abstract: | Application of manures from animal feeding operations (AFOs) as fertilizer on agricultural land can introduce nutrients and hormones (e.g. estrogens) to streams. A landscape-scale study was conducted in the Shenandoah River watershed (Virginia, USA) in order to assess the relationship between densities of AFOs in watersheds of agricultural streams and in-stream nutrient concentrations and estrogenic activity. The effect of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) on nutrients and estrogenic activity was also evaluated. During periods of high and low flow, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and orthophosphate (PO 4-P) concentrations were analyzed and estrogens/estrogenic compounds were extracted and quantified as17??-estradiol equivalents (E2Eq) using a bioluminescent yeast estrogen screen. Estrogenic activity was measurable in the majority of collected samples, and 20% had E2Eq concentrations >1ng/L. Relatively high concentrations of DIN (>1000??g/L) were also frequently detected. During all sampling periods, there were strong relationships between watershed densities of AFOs and in-stream concentrations of DIN (R 2=0.56-0.81) and E2Eq (R 2=0.39-0.75). Relationships between watershed densities of AFOs and PO 4-P were weaker, but were also significant (R 2=0.27-0.57). When combined with the effect of watershed AFO density, streams receiving WWTP effluent had higher concentrations of PO 4-P than streams without WWTP discharges, and PO 4-P was the only analyte with a consistent relationship to WWTPs. The results of this study suggest that as the watershed density of AFOs increases, there is a proportional increase in the potential for nonpoint source pollution of agricultural streams and their receiving waters by nutrients, particularly DIN, and compounds that can cause endocrine disruption in aquatic organisms. ?? 2011 Elsevier B.V. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70032590 |
| Citation Author: | Ciparis, S.; Iwanowicz, L. R.; Voshell, J. R. |
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| Citation End Page: | 276 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Science of the Total Environment |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 9 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Effects of watershed densities of animal feeding operations on nutrient concentrations and estrogenic activity in agricultural streams; 2012; Article; Journal; Science of the Total Environment; Ciparis, S.; Iwanowicz, L. R.; Voshell, J. R. |
| Citation Start Page: | 268 |
| Citation Volume: | 414 |
| Citation Year: | 2012 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Effects of watershed densities of animal feeding operations on nutrient concentrations and estrogenic activity in agricultural streams; 2012; Article; Journal; Science of the Total Environment; Ciparis, S.; Iwanowicz, L. R.; Voshell, J. R. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.10.017 |
| Date Other: | Sun, 1 Jan 2012 00:00 -0600 |
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