Occurrence and Transformation of Hormones from Chicken Litter in Land Application

Land application of animal waste is regarded to be one of the major routes through which natural and synthetic hormones are released into environment. To investigate the occurrence and transformation 17b-estradiol (E2), ethynylestradiol (EE2) and testosterone in chicken litter and litter applied soil, we developed an analytical method based on liquid-solid extraction, silica gel cleanup, HPLC separation. E2 and EE2 can be easily quantified using fluorescence detector. The detection limit is 100 ng/g for each of them. Testosterones as well as the metabolites of these hormones are quantified using mass spectrometry (MS) equipped with electron spray ionization (ESI) source. The data shows systematic trends of distribution of these compounds in both temporal and special levels.