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 [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp