Dose-response feeding study of chlorinated paraffins in broiler chickens: effects on growth rate and tissue distribution

• Published in: Food additives and contaminants 2004-10, Vol.21 (10), p.943-962
• Main Authors: Ueberschar, K.H, Matthes, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - metabolism; adverse effects; agricultural runoff; alkanes; Animal productions; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; broiler; broiler chickens; broiler feeding; carry over; Chickens - growth & development; Chickens - metabolism; chlorinated hydrocarbons; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; environmental exposure; experimental diets; fat body; Feces - chemistry; feed contamination; feed conversion; feed intake; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - pharmacokinetics; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - toxicity; liveweight gain; Male; Organ Size - drug effects; Paraffin - pharmacokinetics; Paraffin - toxicity; short-chain chlorinated paraffins; Terrestrial animal productions; Tissue Distribution; tissue weight; Vertebrates; Weight Gain - drug effects
• ISSN: 0265-203X; 1464-5122
• DOI: 10.1080/02652030400006833

Even with the highest additions of 100 mg kg(-1) short-chain (C10-C13) chlorinated paraffins (CP) to feed, the health of broilers was not adversely affected during a 31-day feeding experiment. In addition, 1 and 3 weeks after the experiment started, growth rate and feed consumption of the young animals were not impaired. No significant influence on mortality, organ weight relative to live weight or performance (weight gain, feed consumption) was noted. The CP concentrations in abdominal fat, meat, liver and kidneys were related linearly to the CP concentration of the feed. The highest contents were analysed in fat and the faeces, and the lowest concentrations were found in blood, meat and bile fluid. Less than 5% of the CP amount consumed was incorporated into the body, without taking the head, gut, feet and feathers into account.