As from June 8, 2011, poultry farmers have been given 30 days to find an alternative to the arsenic-based animal drug 3-Nitro (Roxarsone). The drug is arsenic-based and contains the less toxic organic arsenic, which subsequent tests by the FDA have found could transform into the more toxic inorganic arsenic, a known human carcinogenic. They have found evidence of increased inorganic arsenic in the livers, and less so in edible tissues, of treated poultry.
Alpharma Voluntarily Withdraw Roxarsone
Manufacturers Alpharma, a subsidiary of Pfizer, Inc., have agreed to voluntarily withdraw the drug from sales in the United States. The 30-day grace period was given to allow farmers time to find an alternative to the product to ensure the health of their stock.
Added to Feed to Encourage Weight Gain
Roxarsone is used to help control the parasitic disease coccidiosis and has also been approved for addition to feeds for weight gain, feed efficiency and improved skin pigmentation in poultry. It is used in swine feed as well, but to a lesser degree.
Arsenic Levels Deemed Safe in Chicken
FDA officials stress that the levels of inorganic arsenic are very low and that there is no reason to stop eating chicken while the drug is withdrawn, as it is believed that there is very little health risk. They also advise that chicken already in circulation for consumption does not have to be recalled. Consumer bodies in other countries will be alerted as to the findings, but it will be up to the individual countries to decide whether they are going to withdraw Roxarsone from use or if they will allow poultry and swine farmers to continue using it.
Environmental Contamination Concerns
The concern of water contamination from arsenic-containing chicken litter spread onto farmland causing localized arsenic pollution has been raised. Pelletizing or incinerating the chicken litter and then selling it as fertilizer creates a further opportunity for human exposure to arsenic. It is well known that crops grown in arsenic-contaminated soils can accumulate arsenic. Exposure to arsenic by farm workers is another concern to be considered.
Sources
"3-Nitro (Roxarsone) and Chicken", published by FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration, June 8, 2011.
Nachman, Keeve E., Graham, Jay P., Price, Lance B., Silbergeld, Ellen K., " Arsenic: A Roadblock to Potential Animal Waste Management Solutions ", published by Environmental Health Perspectives, May 12, 2005.
Rutherford, D.W., Bednar, A.J., Garbarino, J.R., Needham, R, Staver, K.W., Wershaw, R.L. "Environmental fate of roxesone in poultry litter", published by Pub Med, U.S. Geological Survey, April, 2003.
Kerry Biddle-Chadwick - Associate Editor for Destination Magazine and freelance writer for All At Sea, Helium and Orato.
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