Assessment of the sequestration strategy based on brown coal Shoptykol to reduce organochlorine pesticides transfer from contaminated soil to hen eggs

Abstract

This study investigated the efficiency of a sequestration strategy using carbon-based materials to reduce the transfer of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from hens to eggs. Specifically, the potential of Kazakhstan-made Shoptykol coal was evaluated by applying 2% (by weight) of this material to OCP-contaminated soil obtained from Kyzylkairat (Almaty region, Kazakhstan). The experiment was conducted by exposure for 45 days of 18 hens, which were divided into three groups depending on their feeding conditions. Laying hens were fed diets containing 10% of soil: for the first group with control soil A, the second group with contaminated soil K, the third group with contaminated soil containing coal. Quantification of pesticide concentrations in egg yolks of laying hens was then performed by gas chromatography mass-spectrometry. Despite the supply of Shoptykol, no significant reduction in OCPs transfer was observed for compounds tested. Thus, the efficiency of Shoptykol coal in reducing the transfer of organochlorine pesticides to animals was not confirmed by our results.