Grand Island Independent
Published Thursday, December 12, 2002
Test shows livestock antibiotic staying in soil


Last modified at 12:07 a.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2002


NORTH PLATTE (AP) -- Tests at the University of Nebraska research farm show
that, so far, a livestock antibiotic is staying in the soil.

The persistent character of the drug intrigues researchers, who are trying to
determine if such drugs could harm human health.

UNL researcher Steve Ensley and a team of researchers at the West Central
Research and Extension Center in April applied livestock manure that
contained oxytetracycline, a popular animal antibiotic, to the crop fields.

The process mirrors practices at cattle, hog and chicken farms.

During the summer, researchers took soil and water samples and tested for the
drug.

"It looks real interesting," Ensley said of the results. "The oxytetracycline
will stay in the soil and persist for a while. Even though it is degraded
somewhat, it is more stable than we thought. And it is moving to greater
depths of soil than we thought."

Such antibiotics are routinely fed at low levels to promote growth of
chickens, hogs and cattle.

Some worry that the long-term effects foster the growth of "super-bugs" of
bacteria that get into the environment and cannot be treated with known
medicine.

On the other hand, some have thought the antibiotics break down before any
harm is done.

Ensley, with funding from the Department of Agriculture, decided to test
those concepts on what could be a typical location in Nebraska.

So far, no risk to humans has been proved.

Further tests in future growing seasons will provide more evidence, he said.


Erin E. Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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