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Ractopamine in particulate matter emitted from beef cattle feedyards and playa wetlands in the Central Plains
Author(s) -
Wooten Kimberly J.,
Sandoz Melissa A.,
Smith Philip N.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.4036
Subject(s) - ractopamine , particulates , wetland , environmental chemistry , chemistry , deposition (geology) , organic matter , environmental science , sediment , ecology , biology , chromatography , paleontology , organic chemistry
Beef cattle in the United States are routinely administered ractopamine, a β‐adrenergic receptor agonist, to enhance growth. The present study is the first to quantify ractopamine in feedyard‐emitted particulate matter and playa wetlands near feedyards. Ractopamine was present in 92% of particulate matter samples, 16% of playa sediment samples, and 3% of playa water samples, at maximum concentrations of 4.7 μg/g, 5.2 ng/g (dry wt), and 271 ng/L, respectively. These data suggest that aerial transmission and deposition of particulate matter is a transport mechanism for ractopamine between feedyards and aquatic systems in the region. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:970–974. © 2017 SETAC