Ecological and human health risks of manure-borne steroid estrogens: A 20-year global synthesis study

Estrone (E1), 17α-estradiol (17α-E2), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), and estriol (E3) are persistent in livestock manure and present serious pollution concerns because they can trigger endocrine disruption at part-per-trillion levels. This study conducted a global analysis of estrogen occurrence in manure using all literature data over the past 20 years. Besides, predicted environmental concentration (PEC) in soil and water was estimated using fate models, and risk/harm quotient (RQ/HQ) methods were applied to screen risks on children as well as on sensitive aquatic and soil species. The estradiol equivalent values ranged from 6.6 to 4.78 × 10⁴ ng/g and 12.4 to 9.46 × 10⁴ ng/L in the solid and liquid fraction. The estrogenic potency ranking in both fractions were 17β-E2> E1>17α-E2>E3. RQs of measured environmental concentration in the liquid fraction pose medium (E3) to high risk (E1, 17α-E2 & 17β-E2) to fish but are lower than risks posed by xenoestrogens. However, the RQ of PECs on both soil organisms and aquatic species were insignificant (RQ < 0.01), and HQs of contaminated water and soil ingestion were within acceptable limits. Nevertheless, meticulous toxicity studies are still required to confirm (or deny) the findings because endocrine disruption potency from mixtures of these classes of compounds cannot be ignored.