Effect of redox potential and pH status on degradation and adsorption behavior of tylosin in dairy lagoon sediment suspension

Veterinary antibiotics are the most heavily used pharmaceuticals in intensive animal farming operation. Their presence in the environment through application of manure and lagoon water as fertilizer in agricultural fields has generated a growing concern in recent years due to potential threat to the ecosystem and the risk they pose to human and animal health. Among the antibiotics, tylosin, a macrolide class of antibiotics, has been widely used for disease prevention and growth promotion in swine, cattle/dairy, and poultry production. To understand degradation and sorption behavior of tylosin A, a laboratory microcosm incubation study was conducted on dairy lagoon sediments suspension under different pH (5.5, 7.0, 8.5) and redox potentials (Eh at −100 mV, 0 mV, +250 mV, +350 mV). Sorption and degradation of tylosin was strongly influenced by sediment pH and redox conditions. Under acidic (pH 5.5) and reduced (Eh −100 mV) condition, tylosin persisted in the solution phase of dairy lagoon sediment suspension much longer with resident time of 77 d. Under oxidized (Eh +350 mV) condition, microbial degradation was much greater causing 68–75% of tylosin loss from the solution at pH 5.5 and 32–75% at pH 7.0 during the 20 d incubation. At pH 8.5, abiotic transformation of tylosin A into unknown degradates rather than sediment adsorption and microbial degradation was the major mechanism controlling tylosin disappearance from the solution regardless of the status of redox potentials. Overall, the results suggested that under reduced condition with low pH, tylosin will be persisted in the lagoon effluents and residue of tylosin may enter agricultural fields through the application of lagoon slurry as fertilizer.

► Redox potential (Eh)-pH status affects tylosin behavior in dairy waste lagoon sediment slurry.
► Under acidic-neutral condition, biotic degradation and sediment adsorption of tylosin dominate.
► Abiotic transformation of tylosin A dominates at alkaline condition regardless of Eh status.
► Combination of alkaline pH and dairy lagoon sediment promotes abiotic transformation of tylosin A.
► Tylosin residence time in solution of lagoon slurry is 77 d under acidic-reduced condition.