Impact of Hormones in Runoff from the Land Application of Biosolids

The presence of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in municipal biosolids in the U.S. has received considerable attention by the public and scientific community over the last several years. Of particular concern is whether the presence of EDCs in biosolids results in significant risks to public health and the environment upon land application of the biosolids. Recent research has shown a high mobility of certain hormones in land applied biosolids. These hormones have the ability to be transported from the soils to waterways. The occurrence, impact and control of numerous other groups of contaminants known generically as compounds of potential concern (CPCs), contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), as well as various other terms and acronyms, are a subject of ongoing discussion and study among professional organizations serving the engineering and sciences communities.While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has evaluated the risks associated with dioxins present in biosolids-amended soils, to date, no other microconstituents, particularly those of emerging concern, have been subjected to complete risk assessments with respect to the land application of municipal biosolids. In wildlife, the evidence for endocrine disruption is based primarily on studies of aquatic species. For instance, reported effects of endocrine disruption in fishes include high hormone levels, altered sex ratios, intersexuality, and reduced fertility and fecundity. Additionally, recent research has found that very small doses of testosterone on female fish can masculinize and inhibit reproduction. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the research performed by Dr. Borch and Colorado State University concerning the mobility of hormones contained in land applied municipal biosolids and available treatment technologies to reduce the levels.