Document zzGKvebaqO9gX1wpL9R9dZQyR

FRESENT STATUS OF PCBs IN POULTRY Presented at Cienson Unlverlsty Poultry Health & Management Conference March 6-7, 1972 J. R. Harris ' North Carolina Sfate University Raleigh, North Carolina f On Juno .9, 1971, a condition In two-week old broiler chickens with symptoms similar to chick edema disease was seen. The most common symptoms were gasping and incoordination of the head and neck just prior to death. The most severely affected birds emitted o squeaking sound. The mortality ran to 50$ and the remainder were stunted to the point that they were destroyed. The condition occurred in several broiler flocks. On postmortem examination, most birds had a severe accumulation of fluid around the heart. A groenlsh-yeI low geI at I nous-11ke fluid was found under the skin of some of the birds. The liver showed varying degrees of degeneration with a mottled to a roughened appearance resembling cirrhosis. The kldonys were swollen and pale with small hemorrhages. Soma of the birds had-a-white caseous-like material, resembling a bacterial Infection, over the heart and liver. There was inflammation of the Intestinal tract bui no extensive enteritis. Tho digestive tract was usually empty. Because of the sporadic nature of tho condition and the resemblance of chick edema disease (toxic f3t) or crotolaria poisoning, a toxic substance In tho feed or water was suspected. Feed and water from houses with affected chtcVens woro collected for analysis and a feeding experiment. . DSW 030274 STLCOPCB4014236 I\ i \ 2- - Sixty day-old broiler chicks from the same parent flock were equally divided and placed in a battery brooder. _ Twenty were given free access to the suspect feed, twenty to a known non-toxic feed that Is routinely fed in the Department, and twenty on non toxic feed and suspect water from broiler houses. All groups were observed dally as tc appearance, feed and water consumption. At ten days of age, the chicks on suspect feed were not very active and would huddle close to source of heat. Feathers were ruffled and some were \* gasping. At fourteen days, half the birds on suspect feed had stopped eating and would not move. On the fifteenth day, ten birds died and the remainder were showing symptoms of gasping. The birds on control feed and suspect wafer were normal. , AH the birds on suspect feed were autopsied and had typical lesions as seen previously in birds dying in the broiler houses. In some of the birds wo wore able to withdraw 45 ml of fluid from their pericardial sac and peritoneal cavity. `( - f A sample of suspect feed was analyzed for chick edema factor, chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, crotalaria seed and polychlorinated biphonyls (PCOs) as McCune, et al. and Flick, et_ a I. have described PCBs as producing symptom; and lesions as we had observed. The Norlh Carolina Department of Agrlculluro ] i i seed laboratory found rio crotalaria seed. t; : ; i Analysis of Suspect Feed Ii DDE (degradation product of DDT) 1.30 ppm DDO 1.42 ppm DDT 0.34 ppm PCB 1242 (polychlorinated biphenyl) 148.0 ppm BHC (benzene hoxachI oride) 8.8 ppm CEF (chick edema factor) 0 !':.i DSW 030275 STLCOPCB4014237 -3- The principal toxic Ingredlont in the feed was considered to be PCB-1242. Wo reported our results to the various poultry companies involved in the problem and to the regulatory agencies. It was later determined that the only common Ingredient that was being fad by the companies with the problem was Peruvian Fish Meal being shipped from East Coast Terminal, Wilmington, North Carolina, ft was determined that Tharmonoi-FR-i (rachlor 1242 manufactured by Monsanto Chemical Company) was leaking in the heat exchange system used to pastourlze fish meal to destroy salmonella. The Food and Drug Administration tested the processed fish meal and confirmed that fish meal on hand was contaminated with PCB. Continuing investigation indicated the leak began on April 30, 1971 and continued through July 16. Approximately 16,000 tons of fish meat were shipped during that period. Individual fish meal samples examined contained from 14 to 350 ppm PCD. . The combined forces of the Food and Drug Administration and the United Steles Department of Agriculture were set in motion to find the incidenco arid levels of PCB in meal and eggs, invoices of fish meal shipments wore obtained and residue sampling for PCB began. The PCS family of industrial chemicals has been used for more than 40 years.. PCB have been used in- capacitors, as transformer fluids, as heal transfer agents, in plasticizers, printing inks and carbonless carbon paper. Reports in the foreign literature have shov.-n that PCB are distributed world-wide and residues havo been found in fish and wild birds. . Some of Food and Drug AdminIstratioo*s earliest findings of PCB in foods occurred In 1969 when PCB were found In milk. PCB wore found in five of 12 rr.ilk samples from Wesl Virginia. During the investigation it was learned that PCB was commonly used os o hoat transfer agent in electrical' capacitors in the DSW 030276 STLCOPCB4014238 f -4- area from which milk samples were collected. Further investigations showed thal the olectric company had allowed a right of way sprayer to utilize a . . transformer oil base for defoliant spraying. Vegetation collected from the power line right of way was found positive for PCB. The drift of the spray to an adjacent dairy pasture caused the PCB residue In milk. Other Instances of milk contaminated with PCB have been reported. One PCB has been used as an Ingredient in paints used to coat the interior wall of silos. Feeding of silage from these silos has resulted in PCB residues in milk. ' Toxlcfty of PCB to Poultry It has been determined that PCB 1242 is more toxic to chickens than PCB 1254 and 1260. The l-ast two digits of the number represent the percent of chlorine in the compound. As the chlorine In the PCB molecule decreases, toxicity increases. Toxicity 1242 to Chickens Level ppm Morta11ty 3 wk 4 v.k 100 0 0 200 0 40$ 400 eost 100$ Toxicity 1254 to Chickens Leve I ppm f*QrTa I i ty 3 wIT 4 wk 100 0 0 200 0 l % 400 50$ 1$ DSW 030277 STLCOPCB4014239 I) ) -5- Toxicity 1260 to Chickens Love I ppm ''of tali ty 3 v, 4 wk 100 0 0 200 0 0 400 0 0 There have oeen reports of egg shell thinning in wild birds thaf have consumed food containing PCB, particularly fist eating birds. This can bo due to PCB1s ability to activate enzymes in the liver which transforms es'rogen: into a water soluble form that is readily eliminated from the bird's body, thereby affecting calcium utilization. A similar phenomenon occurs with DDT and sulfa drugs os they inhibit carbonic anhyerase causing she I less or thin shclled eggs. White Leghorn chickens have been fed PCB 1242, 1254 and 1260 at I, !C and 100 ppm in the dieT. Egg production in hens fod PCB 1242 at ICO ppm or PCB 1254 at 100 pp- was much lower than egg production of control group. There was poor hjtchability of eggs from hen:- fed PC5 1242 at 10 ppm. None of the ucgs hatched from hens fed PCB 1242 at J00 ppm or PCQ 1254 at 100 ppm. There were no significant differences in specific gravity among eggs from treated or from control hens. The egg she! Is, however, from hens fed PCR 1742 yt 10 or 100 ppm were not as thick as the shells from hens on < .tdo'l diet. . \ Therefore, the ingeslicn of PCB 124? at I ppm or PCB 1254 at 10 ppm and PCB 1200 at I, 10 or 100 pprr. caused no apparent affect on mature chicke.", or their egg-. However, hens fed PCB 1742 .jl 10 or 100 ppm or PC0 1254 at IOC ppm did not produ-e. ar. many eggs as control, had M:r> shells and roduced ha* chat i I i DSW 030278 STLCOPCB4014240 < i i] i i 4 & t n ) ! 1T v / 6- - v,.< # N^V* * - * 4~. 1Jtil.t ln `yjrrj--^ ( f>CB with the feast amount of cMon're are more toxic. These chon-icals are cumulative being deposited in `atty tissue of the body. Poultry is exposed to chlorinated .hydrocarbons including PCS either by ingesticn of contaminated feed or use of these chemicals in the environment. A continuous residue problem can result in the food chain fr.,r the above or the recycl ing of rendered animal tfS'SCe. An example of this- would he: Animal Feed Corn, soybeans, fishmeal, animal far. meat and bone meal, bermuda grass and alfalfa i' Fed fo Animals Immediate toxic effects due to high level contamination. Low level effec+s from contamina+ed ingredients 4 . Residue develops in mear, milk ana eggs ^ N Human r'u/ard ' Build up of tissue residue in an-i--uls 4/ Rnedered animal by-products recycled into i animal feed. DSN 030279 STLCOPCB4014241