SHORT COMMUNICATION
The Influence of Chronic Thallium Intoxication
on Laying Hens, Including Its Cumulation
in Tissues, Organs, and Eggs
Przemysław Cwynar1, Roman Kołacz1, Tomasz Grudnik2
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1Department of Environmental Hygiene and Animal Welfare,
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, J. Chełmońskiego 38C, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
2European Food Safety Authority, Pharma, Italy
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2014;23(3):949-954
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Thallium is a metal with a high rate of accumulation in the environment and at the same time there is a
very large dispersion of it. Heavy metal studies and its bioaccumulation and concentration in organisms and
health implications are still not well known. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the importance of this
element as an intoxicant of living organisms, especially on laying hens. Four groups of ISA Brown hens were
used in this study. Experimental groups received feed containing thallium as thallium sulfate (Tl2SO4).
Concentrations and metal accumulation in the animals were determined periodically, analyzing the eggs and
animal blood. After the experiment, concentrations of thallium in the tissues was determined post-mortem. The
studies showed a proportional accumulation of thallium in the body of the animals in relation to exposure time,
and doses with the highest concentrations in the bones, kidneys, muscles, liver, and blood.