Studies on the transfer of harmful substances from feed to chicken tissues

The transfer of selected analytes from feed to chicken tissues was studied in an area where the level of contamination by xenobiotics had been checked during a pilot study. Feeds and tissues were analysed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry for the contents of hazardous elements. High resolution gas chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography were used for the determination of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, organo-chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls. No marked transfer of cadmium, lead, or arsenic into tissues was demonstrable during the fattening period of 40 days. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons were measured in feeds, but not in chicken tissues. On the other hand, organo-chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were found in the tissues although their concentrations in feeds were below the analytical limit or slightly above it. It is concluded that consumption of feed contaminated by various pollutants at concentrations near the maximum residual limits does not result in an increase of the content of these pollutants in chicken tissues.