Transport of Testosterone, Androstenedione and Estrogen in the Vadose Zone Underlying a Dairy Waste Lagoon
Laurence S. Shore, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel

Characteristics of a Plume of Extremely High pH Groundwater

Bradley A. Green, P.G., Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc., 20 Foundry Street, Concord, NH 03301, Tel: 603-415-6160, Email: bgreen@sanbornhead.com
Charles A. Crocetti, Ph.D., P.G., Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc., 20 Foundry Street, Concord, NH 03301, Tel: 603-415-6121, Email: cacrocetti@sanbornhead.com
Charles L. Head, P.E., P.G., L.S.P., Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc., 20 Foundry Street, Concord, NH 03301, Tel: 603-415-6105, Email: chead@sanbornhead.com

A historic release of a sodium hydroxide solution occurred at an industrial site in the New England area. The resultant pH of the groundwater was found to be as high as 14 standard units (s.u.), with a plume of groundwater with a pH greater than 10 s.u. extending from the source area to a wetland discharge point approximately 500 feet away. The source of high pH has remained in place within soils and shallow bedrock for over 20 years – its persistence due in part to density and viscosity differences that cause the sodium hydroxide to act as a dense aqueous phase liquid (DAPL). This paper will discuss the hydrogeologic and geochemical findings resulting from the extreme pH conditions.

The transport and fate of the DAPL is governed by both fluid properties and the site hydrogeology. Density and viscosity contrasts between ambient groundwater and DAPL likely inhibit mixing of DAPL and ambient groundwater in a manner similar to that of a salt water / fresh water interface in costal aquifers. The bulk of the DAPL occurs in a glacial till of low hydraulic conductivity, further contributing to the DAPL’s persistence in the subsurface. The chemistry of the high pH groundwater is characterized by strong correlations between various metals (some anthropogenic and others naturally-occurring) concentrations and pH, as well as a relative absence in biodegradation of organic contaminants. Possible geochemical reactions/mechanisms responsible for the elevated metals concentrations will be discussed.

Transport of Testosterone, Androstenedione and Estrogen in the Vadose Zone Underlying a Dairy Waste Lagoon

Laurence S. Shore, Ph.D., Depts. of Toxicology and Endocrinology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, POB 12, 50250, Israel; Tel: 972-3-9688-923; E-mail: shorel@int.gov.il
Shahar Baram, M.S., Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990, Israel, Tel: 972-8- 659-6992; E-mail: baramsha@bgu.ac.il
Karen Barel-Cohen, M.S., Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990, Israel, Tel: 972-8-6596904; E-mail: keren@gmail.com
Shai Arnon, Ph.D., Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990, Israel; Tel: 972-8-6596904; E-mail: sarnon@bgu.ac.il
Ofer Dahan, Ph.D., Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990, Israel; Tel: 972-8-6596917; E-mail:  odahan@bgumail.bgu.ac.il

Testosterone, androstenedione and estrogen are present in animal manures and are constantly excreted into the environment.  Previous reports have indicated the inter-convertible estrogens, estradiol and estrone, are immobile in soil while, of the two androgens, - testosterone is mobile and reaches the groundwater and androstenedione is partially mobile.  To study the transport of these compounds in the vadose over long time exposure (30 yr), we studied a dairy barn with 50 dairy cattle.  This was calculated as a load of 36 kg estrogens and 7 kg androgens. All of the effluent was released into 15 x 10 m lagoon, which drained toward a dry creek, creating a constant overflow of about 300 meters long and 1-4 meters wide.  The lithology under the waste lagoon consists of 8 m of clay layer on top of sand and calcareous formation and the water table was at a depth of 47 m. Soil samples (5 g) were extracted with organic solvents and analyzed using radioimmunoassay or Elisa.   Groundwater samples (500 ml; after pumping four well volumes) were extracted on C-18 solid extract columns and similarly analyzed.  It was found that testosterone and estrogen were present in the clay zone at concentrations of greater than 500 ng/kg) and <100 ng/kg in the sandy zone while androstenedione <100 ng/kg was present only in the clay zone. Testosterone and estrogen, but not androstenedione, were present in the groundwater (3 ng/l).  The level of the steroids in control soils and groundwater taken 1 km upstream from the site were below the limit of detection.  We conclude that unlike previous reported, estrogen can be transported in the vadose zone and can reach the groundwater after long time exposure to dairy barn effluents. The concentrations of estrogen observed were above the amount known to affect soil bacteria and aquatic fauna.

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