Water Resources Research Act Program

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Details for Project ID 2008DE120B

Assessing the Presence of Natural Hormones in Litter and Excreta from Broiler Chickens

Institute: Delaware
Year Established: 2008 Start Date: 2008-03-01 End Date: 2009-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $1,750 Total Non-Federal Funds: $3,500

Principal Investigators: Alexandra Barnard, William Saylor

Project Summary: Naturally occurring sex steroid hormones, such as androstenedione, testosterone (T), 17-stradiol (E2), to name a few, are found in water downstream from dairy operations. These hormones, together with other environmental contaminants including chemicals and pharmaceuticals, that can mimic, antagonize, or alter normal endocrine function are called endocrine disrupting chemicals. In this project, we wish to 1) survey commercial broiler litter to determine the presence and concentrations of E2 and T; and 2) determine the course of appearance of E2 and T in excreta of growing broiler chickens.