Poultry litter toxicity comparison from various bioassays

Abstract

Poultry litter contains many toxic chemicals in addition to nutrients. Poultry litter leachate has been shown to be more toxic to marine luminescent organisms (Photobacterium phosphoreum) than other farm animal manures. A comparison of toxicity of the poultry litter leachate was undertaken using various bioassays. The EC₅₀ (or LC₅₀) value for the leachate with the Microtox and Daphnia bioassays was 2.9 g/L. Ni‐trobacter and Pseudomonas bioassays were not useful in determining the leachate toxicity because of the nutritional properties of the litter. Poultry litter leachate was found to be mutagenic to strains TA 97, TA 98, TA 100 and TA 102 using the Ames Test.