Accumulation and excretion of certain organochlorine insecticides in broiler breeder hens

Organochlorine pesticide residues in domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) eggs from central Kenya

“…Aldrin and dieldrin occurred in 55 % ofthe feed samples from farms with enclosed hens. Compared with the egg-to-feed accumulation ratios reported in feeding experiments, however (Kan and Tunistra 1976), the present accumulation ratios were much higher, especially those for the free-range hens. This supports the previous argument that the feed samples obtained from farms with free-range hens represented only part of the chicken feed, and that the chickens could pick up additional feed, eg worms and insects, in the environment.…”

“…The finding that in feed, unlike in eggs, p,p'-DDT constituted about 70% of the total DDT residues ( Table 3) was not unexpected since the conversion of DDT to DDE takes place mainly in living tissue. Comparison of the present accumulation ratios (levels in eggs to levels in corresponding feed) with accumulation ratios obtained in feeding experiments (Kan and Tunistra 1976) revealed that the feed levels in most farms with enclosed hens could account for the levels in the corresponding eggs. However, in none of the farms with high egg residue levels, most of which had freerange hens, were the levels in the analysed feed high enough to account for the levels in the eggs.…”

“…Compared with the accumulation ratios for lindane obtained in feeding experiments (Kan and Tunistra 1976), only the levels in feed samples from farms with enclosed hens were high enough to account for the levels in the corresponding eggs.…”

“…Since lindane was reported to be widely used, the low levels in the eggs probably reflect the quick elimination rate of this pesticide (Ware and Naber 1961 ;Foster et a1 1972). Compared with the accumulation ratios for lindane obtained in feeding experiments (Kan and Tunistra 1976), only the levels in feed samples from farms with enclosed hens were high enough to account for the levels in the corresponding eggs.…”

“…Accumulation ratios of DDT (ratio of the concentration in eggs to that in corresponding feed) in eggs from Embu and Meru, compared with accumulation ratios obtained by Kan and Tunistra (1976) in feeding experiments …”