Engine oil from agricultural machinery as a source of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in free-range hens

Abstract

Free-range hens spend most of their lives outdoors, resulting in their heavy exposure to environmental pollutants such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin, dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs), and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs). We present a case of contamination of free-range eggs that is previously unreported in the literature. The aim of our study was a source investigation after finding a high level of PCDD/Fs in samples of eggs from one of the inspected farms. Samples of hens’ eggs, muscles, and livers and the feeds and soils were analyzed. The results showed that the soil samples taken from the paddock contained high concentrations of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs expressed as toxic equivalents (TEQ) (72.9 ± 18.2 pg WHO-TEQ g−1 dry mas (d.m.)) and a high concentration of NDL-PCBs (207 ± 46.9 ng g−1 d.m.). The investigation found that the cause of the soil contamination was oil leaking from the farm’s tractor engine. The oil contained very high concentrations of PCDD/F and DL-PCBs (1013 ± 253 pg WHO-TEQ g−1 oil) and 5644 ng g−1 of NDL-PCBs. The source of the contamination was confirmed by the similarity of the PCDD/F and PCB profiles in the hen eggs and the soil contaminated by engine oil. The dietary intake of toxins resulting from consumption of the eggs is provided. For children, the consumption of contaminated eggs would result in an intake of double the tolerable weekly intake (TWI), while for adults, it would be approx. 60–70% of TWI.

The transfer of environmental contaminants (Brominated and Chlorinated dioxins and biphenyls, PBDEs, HBCDDs, PCNs and PFAS) from recycled materials used for bedding to the eggs and tissues of chickens

“…The occurrence of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PBDEs in hens eggs has been recorded before (Bernard et al, 1999;Brambilla et al, 2009;Rawn et al, 2011;Piskorska-Pliszczynska et al, 2016;Pajurek et al, 2022) and can sometimes be an indicator of local pollution, but the simultaneous investigation of such a wide range of environmental contaminants is rare. In recent years, conventional commercial husbandry and animal feed have rarely been contributory factors in poultry or egg contamination incidences as they have in the past (Bernard et al, 1999;Malisch et al, 2017); rather, the more recent incidents have related to contaminated materials, either within the housing, farm machinery or paints (Winkler, 2015;Piskorska-Pliszczynska et al, 2016;Pajurek et al, 2022).…”

Application of Mechanical Electronic Engineering in Agricultural Machinery Integration Control Engineering

“…The agricultural machinery job scheduling and monitoring management system consists of modules such as homepage, order management, job scheduling, job supervision, job analysis, information management, trajectory point management, etc., enabling users of agricultural machinery service organizations to manage orders, schedule jobs, monitor agricultural machinery and operators, and manage relevant information under the organization [15][16].…”