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Examining Hormone Concentrations of Interest to Breast Cancer Risk in California’s Beef

To improve our understanding and quantify exposures to various concentrations of both endogenous and exogenous hormones of interest for breast cancer risk from food animal production.

As part of our program-directed initiatives, CBCRP intends to fund up to one project related to understanding exposures to hormones from beef production.

At present, the available data do not permit an evidence-based quantitative characterization of risks that result from the use of hormonal drugs in food animal production. Thus, despite increased recognition of the role of endogenous and exogenous hormones in breast cancer risk and widespread exposure to food animal products, our understanding of the role of dietary hormone exposure in the population burden of breast cancer is not possible at this time.

In recognition of this research gap, we propose funding one pilot study to test two hypotheses: 1) that there are FDA-approved food animal production drug residues, including suspected mammary gland toxicants, prevalent in edible portions of beef products as well as in well drinking water systems in California; and 2) there are quantifiable naturally occurring/ endogenous hormone concentrations in edible portions of both retail USDA certified organic and conventional beef that may have implications for breast cancer risk.

The results of the pilot study will provide the evidence needed to begin to characterize the nature and extent of FDA-approved food animal production drug/hormone residues in the food and water supply in California as well as of naturally occurring hormones of interest for breast cancer in the food supply.

Download the full RFP below.

Full Request for Proposals (pdf)

Application materials are available on proposalCENTRAL.

Applications must be submitted by 12:00 pm PST on January 17, 2019.

Up to one pilot project will be awarded to quantify exposures to various concentrations of both endogenous and exogenous hormones of interest for breast cancer risk from food animal production (beef) and well water.

Project guidelines

The research study would:

  1. Characterize the presence of seven FDA approved drugs for use in food animal products sold in California. Beef products would be examined for endogenous hormones (testosterone propionate [TP], estradiol [E2] and estradiol benzoate, and progesterone) and synthetic hormones (trenbolone acetate [TBA], zeranol, and melengestrol acetate [MGA]). Samples would be collected from retail stores in the state of California. Beef sampling should evaluate both conventionally produced and USDA-Certified Organic samples for endogenous hormones.
  2. Characterize the presence of these same seven FDA approved drugs for use in food animal production in well water. The research would be conducted in a cross-section of California households at potential risk of contamination due to effluent from large-scale animal production and dairy facilities. Depending on the results, these data could be paired with geo-referenced data on animal production sites, which would allow for analyses of spatial relationships between animal production and groundwater contamination with hormones.

Project duration and budget caps

CBCRP intends to fund up to one pilot project.

  • Maximum Duration: 2 years
  • Budget cap for total project direct costs: $220,000