Chlorophenols from wood preservatives in broiler house litter

Abstract

Abstract A survey of fresh shavings from 32 commercial broiler houses for 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐and pentachlorophenols has shown levels of 4 to 307 parts/million (mean 53) and 1 to 83 parts/million (mean 12), respectively. Most of this was lost during the period of growth of the chickens, residual levels of 0 to 5.6 parts/million (mean 0.7) and 0 to 4.1 parts/million (mean 0.3), respectively, being present in the spent litter. Only traces of the corresponding anisoles were found in a few samples. Observations on the source of these chlorophenols, their implications in relation to musty taint in chickens and the route by which they are lost from the litter are discussed.