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Persistence of Estrogenic Hormones in Agricultural Soils: II. 17α‐Ethynylestradiol
Author(s) -
Colucci Michael S.,
Topp Edward
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2001.2077
Subject(s) - loam , microcosm , soil water , moisture , persistence (discontinuity) , environmental chemistry , environmental science , chemistry , soil science , geology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
The persistence of 17α‐ethynylestradiol in agricultural soil was established in laboratory microcosm studies. The hormone was rapidly dissipated in loam, sandy loam, and silt loam soils under a range of moisture and temperature conditions. Dissipation of 17α‐ethynylestradiol correlated closely with removal of total estrogenicity determined with a recombinant yeast bioassay, indicating that extractable estrogenic transformation products did not accumulate. The stability of 17α‐ethynylestradiol in sterile soil, decreased removal in the absence of oxygen, and the response of dissipation kinetics to variation in temperature and moisture suggested that the removal was microbially mediated. We conclude that 17α‐ethynylestradiol is rapidly dissipated in agricultural soils under a range of conditions typical of a temperate growing season.