Effects Of Atmospheric Ammonia Research Articles

Effects of Atmospheric Ammonia on Skeletal Muscle Growth in Broilers

Ammonia, one of the most polluted gases in poultry houses, has always been an urgent problem to solve. Exposure to ammonia can threaten the respiratory tract, induce inflammation, and decrease growth performance. To date, there are few studies investigating the effects of ammonia on skeletal muscle growth. In this experiment, a total of 144 broilers were randomly divided into two groups, and 0 ppm and 35 ppm atmospheric ammonia were administered in the chambers. The trial lasted for 21 days. The breast muscle, thigh muscle, dressed weight, and serum biochemical indexes were measured. The skeletal muscle fibre morphology was observed using light microscopy, and the expressions of genes associated with skeletal muscle development and myosin heavy chain genes were assessed. After 7 days of ammonia exposure, the broilers’ weight in the ammonia group decreased. On the 21st day of the experiment, in the ammonia group, the breast muscle weight, thigh muscle weight, and dressed weight decreased, the blood urea nitrogen content increased, skeletal muscle fibre diameter shortened, the expression of myostatin increased, and the expression of myosin heavy chain-FWM and myosin heavy chain-FRM decreased significantly. This article suggests that 35 ppm atmospheric ammonia seriously affects the skeletal muscle gain rate of broilers, and the myostatin pathway could be a potential regulation of the growth rate of muscle fibre under ammonia exposure.

Effects of atmospheric ammonia on the production performance, serum biochemical indices, and liver RNA-seq data of laying ducks

ABSTRACT 1. Ammonia is a toxic gas and an air pollutant of great concern. The effects of ammonia-induced damage in ducks are rarely reported. 2. A total of 176 laying ducks were randomly allocated to one of two groups with four replicates and were exposed to ammonia at 5 ± 5 ppm (low ammonia, LA) or 75 ± 5 ppm (high ammonia, HA), respectively, for 30 days. 3. The results showed that atmospheric ammonia exposure significantly decreased body weight and laying performance (P < 0.05). It significantly changed serum biochemical indices by increasing alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.05), and decreasing superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.05). Haematoxylin and eosin staining of hepatocytes revealed severe fatty degeneration. Results of RNA-seq analyses revealed that eight genes were significantly up-regulated in the HA group, which were involved in catalytic activity, single-organism metabolic processes, oxidation-reduction processes, and carbohydrate metabolic processes. 4. These results indicated that atmospheric ammonia exposure reduced production performance, affected serum biochemical indices, and led to severe fatty degeneration in the liver of laying ducks. Differentially expressed genes in liver indicated that there were effects of ammonia exposure on the metabolism and detoxification capabilities in ducks.

Effects of ammonia on intestinal microflora and productive performance of laying ducks

Atmospheric ammonia is harmful to poultry and human health. The effect of ammonia on the intestinal microflora of laying ducks is still unknown. In this study, the effects of atmospheric ammonia and exposure time on the intestinal microflora of laying ducks were investigated using 16S rDNA sequencing technology. The body weight, ovary weight, spleen weight, liver weight, and productive performance of laying ducks were also recorded, and the relationship between intestinal microflora diversity and productive performance was analyzed. The results showed that Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were the dominant bacterial phyla. At the phylum and genus levels, with the exception of the phylum Firmicutes and the genus Sutterella, the top 10 most abundant phyla and genera differed significantly when the ammonia concentration was increased from 10 to 75 ppm and/or the exposure time was extended from 10 to 30 D. Laying rate was highly significantly lower in ducks exposed to 75 ppm ammonia for 10 D compared with those exposed to 10 ppm ammonia for 10 D. Body, ovary, and spleen weights also decreased when the ammonia concentration was increased. At the genus level, Flavonifractor was highly significantly positively correlated with ovary weight. Methanocorpusculum and Anaerotruncus were significantly positively correlated with ovary weight. Lactobacillus was significantly positively correlated with spleen weight. Phascolarctobacterium, Sphaerochaeta, Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG.004, and Lactococcus were significantly positively correlated with spleen weight. These results indicated that ammonia affected the diversity of the intestinal microbiota and the productive performance of laying ducks. Several intestinal microbiota genera were also correlated with organ weights.

Dietary liposoluble antioxidants protect mouse immune cells from the toxic effects of atmospheric ammonia

Dietary liposoluble antioxidants protect mouse immune cells from the toxic effects of atmospheric ammonia

Effect of Atmospheric Ammonia on Growth Performance and Immunological Response of Broiler Chickens

Effect of Atmospheric Ammonia on Growth Performance and Immunological Response of Broiler Chickens

Effect of atmospheric ammonia on mortality rate of rats with barbiturate intoxication

Ammonia inhalation (0.84-1.07 mg/liter, 3 h) was accompanied by a 65% increase in ammonia concentration in mixed blood of intact rats. This treatment did not cause death of intact animals, but potentiated the lethal effect of sodium thiopental and inhibited external respiration and O2 consumption in animals. The resistance of rats to the lethal effect of barbiturate tended to decrease under conditions of experimental hyperammonemia induced by intraperitoneal injection of ammonium acetate in a nonlethal dose (6 mmol/kg). Our results indicate that potentiation of the toxic effect of barbiturates by atmospheric ammonia is related to its resorptive effects.

Effect of atmospheric ammonia on bovine lung

The effect of atmospheric ammonia on bovine lung was investigated in 3 experiments by means of bronchio-alveolar lavage (BAL). Cattle were placed in rooms simulating live export conditions and atmospheric ammonia was monitored throughout. Bronchio-alveolar lavage was performed 4 days before the cattle were placed in rooms and immediately after they left the rooms. The cattle were introduced to experimental diets 5 days before the first BAL was performed. In all experiments, wood shavings were used as bedding and, in room 2, these were mixed with gypsum (2:1) and partially changed every 2-3 days. In experiment 1, 10 Angus cross heifers were fed lucerne cubes diets (2.25% of liveweight (LW)) with 5 placed in each simulation room for 9 days. Atmospheric ammonia was significantly (P<0.05) higher in room 1 (42.3 ± 2.8 ppm) than in room 2 (22.0 ± 1.6 ppm). In experiments 2 and 3, 3 groups of 4 Angus cross heifers were used. They were fed (all at 3% of LW) either a basic export diet (BD) or a basic diet containing CaCl2 (BD + CaCl2). Two groups were kept in the simulation rooms for 12 days, and a third group was kept outdoors in a sand yard. In experiment 2, the animals in room 1 were fed BD while the animals in room 2 and outdoors were fed the BD + CalCl2. Atmospheric ammonia was significantly different (P<0.05) among the 3 groups, and the values were 16.8 ± 0.68, 9.4 ± 0.34 and 0 ± 0 ppm, respectively, for rooms 1 and 2, and outdoors. In experiment 3, animals in room 1 and outdoors were fed the BD while the animals in room 2 were fed the BD + CalCl2. Atmospheric ammonia values were18.6 ± 0.6, 10.6 ± 0.3 and 0 ± 0 ppm, respectively, for rooms 1 and 2, and outdoors. In experiments 1, there was a significant increase in total white cell and mononucleated cell counts (P<0.05) on the BAL samples performed after the animals left the rooms. There were no changes on BAL samples in either experiment 2 and 3. The recommended time-weighted average safety levels for atmospheric ammonia for humans (25 ppm) were exceeded on a number of occasions in both rooms in experiment 1. On the other hand, atmospheric ammonia did not exceed 25 ppm in either experiment 2 or 3. The dust levels in both rooms and sand yard were very low, therefore, ammonia was the most logically attributable cause for the irritation developed by the animals in experiment 1.

Early experience of ammoniated environments and subsequent avoidance behaviour in domestic fowl

The adverse physical effects of atmospheric ammonia on stock (Charles and Payne, 1966; Wolfe et al. 1968) and stockpeople (Kirkhorn and Garry, 2000) have been documented, but broiler chickens’ perception of this aspect of their own welfare has not been fully investigated. Previous studies have demonstrated a delayed avoidance of high ammonia concentrations (Jones et al., 2000) but we could not categorically claim that this was a true aversion to ammonia since the birds may simply have expressed a preference for fresh air based on their previous experience. This experiment was designed to establish whether avoidance of ammonia in broiler chickens was an intrinsic aversion, independent of previous atmospheric experience.

Short-Term Exposure to Atmospheric Ammonia Does not Affect Frost Hardening of Needles from Three- and Five-Year-Old Scots Pine Trees

The effect of atmospheric ammonia on frost hardening of needles from 3- and 5-year-old Scots pine trees was investigated. Trees were exposed to various concentrations of NH(3) during different hardening stages under laboratory conditions and in experiments with open-top chambers under a natural hardening regime during winter. Under laboratory conditions, exposure to 250 nL.L(-1) NH(3) did nor affect frost tolerance, whereas hardening was increased in needles of trees exposed to 500 nL.L(-1) NH(3). In trees that were hardened in open-top chambers, frost hardiness was not influenced by exposure to atmospheric ammonia up to 106 nL.L(-1) Needle nitrogen concentrations in the open-top chambers increased with atmospheric NH(3) concentration. Needle concentrations of potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were not affected by NH(3) and were within a normal range. The role of the nutrient status of the needles on the response of frost hardening of Scots pine needles towards exposure to atmospheric ammonia is discussed.

Effects of in vitro atmospheric ammonia exposure on recovery rate and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of bovine neutrophils and bronchoalveolar macrophages.

The effects of atmospheric ammonia, a major pollutant in animal confinement facilities, on bovine neutrophils and bronchoalveolar macrophages were evaluated in vitro. Ammonia exposure at concentrations 50, 100 and 200 ppm for one hour impaired recovery rates of neutrophils dose-dependently but enhanced their chemiluminescence activity per cell at lower concentrations (50 and 100 ppm). Macrophages were resistant to the exposure. Their recovery rates and chemiluminescence remained unaffected even at 200 ppm exposure. The present results suggest that ammonia exposure is unfavorable for bovine neutrophils in vitro, and probably in vivo also, in light of causing cell damage and triggering wider inflammatory responses.

A morphometric and functional study of the toxicity of atmospheric ammonia in the extrathoracic airways in pigs.

The effects of atmospheric ammonia (NH3) on the nasal and tracheal mucosa of pigs were investigated by morphometric and functional methods. Pigs were exposed to four concentrations of NH3 [5 (control), 25, 50 and 100 ppm] for 6 days in a specially designed air-pollutant exposure chamber. Samples were taken from the turbinates and the trachea, and the respiratory mucosa was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Dose-response curves to carbachol and isoproterenol were constructed using isolated strips of tracheal smooth muscle, with or without epithelium. In pigs exposed to ammonia, considerable mucosal injuries were observed in the turbinates but not in the trachea. The number of neutrophils in the epithelial layer and in the lamina propria, and epithelial hyperplasia were closely and significantly correlated with the concentrations of ammonia (r = 0.894, p < 0.001; r = 0.727, P < 0.001; and r = 0.818, p < 0.001, respectively). Except for the lamina propria, all these changes were significant (p < 0.05) at ammonia concentrations as low as 25 ppm. The percentage of the surface of the turbinate mucosa that was ciliated tended to decrease with increasing ammonia concentration (r = 0.439, p < 0.082). Ammonia induced smooth-muscle hyperresponsiveness to carbachol with a close linear correlation between individual values of the carbachol-induced maximal effect and the NH3 concentrations (r = 0.526, p < 0.003). While mechanical destruction of the epithelium induced an increase in Emax in the control group, no difference was observed between the intact and denuded strips from animals exposed to ammonia. The response to isoproterenol was not influenced by ammonia. It was concluded that quantitative histological analysis of the inflammatory infiltration and epithelial hyperplasia in the turbinates is a useful tool for quantifying the effects of atmospheric pollutants in pigs; a 6-day exposure to ammonia induces nasal irritation and functional disturbances of the tracheal smooth-muscle contractions at concentrations as low as 25 ppm.

Effects of atmospheric ammonia and ammonium sulphate on vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in three heathland species

Three heathland species. Arnica montana L., Viola canina L. and Nardus stricta L., were exposed to gaseous ammonia and artificial rain containing ammonium sulphate for 11 wk. Plants infected with Glomus fasciculatum (Thaxter Sensu Gerdemann) Gerd & Trappe grew faster than non-mycorrhizal plants. Ammonia increased the shoot dry weight of both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal V. Canina and mycorrhizal N. stricta. Only mycorrhizal V. canina and non-mycorrhizal N. stricta grew faster when supplied with increasing concentrations of ammonium sulphate. The nitrogen tissue concentration, in all three species, was not influenced by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM), but increased when plants Wete treated with ammonia. Mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal N. stricta and mycorrhizal V. canina had a higher N tissue concentration when supplied with ammonium sulphate. The phosphorus tissue concentration was higher when plants were infected VAM, but tended to be lower in the presence of ammonia or ammonium sulphate. Mycorrhizal plants had higher total amounts of N and P than non-mycorrhizal plants and plants treated with ammonia had higher total amounts of N than non-treated plants. VAM colonization increased in all three species when treated with ammonia but was not affected by exposure to ammonium sulphate. Mycorrhiza decreased the sensitivity of N. stricta to drought, while ammonia decreased the sensitivity to drought for all three species. The effects of additional nitrogen in relation to N/P ratios are discussed with respect to the ecological consequences for these heathland species.

Effects of Atmospheric Ammonia on Pulmonary Hemodynamics and Vascular Permeability in Pigs: Interaction with Endotoxins

The influence of atmospheric ammonia on the somatic growth, the plasma cortisol and ammonia concentrations, and cell blood counts was investigated in pigs exposed to four concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 100 ppm) for 6 days in a specifically designed air-pollutants exposure chamber. The effects of this gas on pulmonary vascular hemodynamics and permeability and on the endotoxin-induced vascular response were also assessed using an isolated perfused lung preparation. The total pulmonary blood flow resistance (Rt) was partitioned into four components: arterial (Ra), pre-(Ra′) and post-(Rv′) capillary and venous (Rv). The capillary filtration coefficient (Kf,c) was evaluated by using a gravimetric technique. None of the concentrations of ammonia significantly modified the plasma cortisol and ammonia concentrations or the differential leukocyte percentages and total white blood cell count, suggesting an absence of stress related to ammonia. In exposed animals, lethargy and a concentration-related depression of the somatic growth were observed. The equation of the regression line plotted relating the mean values of the changes in body weight gain recorded over the exposure period expressed as percentages of the initial body weight (y) and ammonia concentrations (x) was: y = 3.204 − 0.177x + 0.001x2(r = 0.99; p≤0.013). Endotoxin infused in the perfusion liquid of lungs from unexposed animals for 180 min induced a significant 208% increase in Rt (p < 0.001) which can be ascribed to a 338 and 180% increase in Ra′ and Rv′, respectively. Endotoxin infusion also induced a 62% (p ≤ 0.001) increase in the Kf,c. Exposure of pigs to ammonia at any concentration did not modify the baseline values of any hemodynamic or permeability parameters. However, the hemodynamic response to endotoxins in lungs from pigs exposed to 100 ppm was significantly altered. The increase in Rt, Ra′, and Rv′ observed in unexposed pigs was completely abolished as shown by the limited changes in Rt (+34.9%). An intermediate reaction (+131.7%) was obtained in pigs exposed to 50 ppm. This inhibiting effect of ammonia was closely correlated with gas concentration by a linear regression (r = 0.99; p ≤ 0.037). The changes in the Kf,c recorded in the control group were not modified by exposure to ammonia. It was concluded that exposure of pigs to aerial ammonia concentrations from 0 to 100 ppm for 6 days has no direct effect on the pulmonary microvascular hemodynamics and permeability and induces no stress response. A marked depressive effect on the somatic growth is observed at concentrations greater than 25 ppm. Concentrations greater than 50 ppm can modulate the pulmonary vascular response to endotoxins.

Effects of atmospheric ammonia on vegetation—A review

Atmospheric ammonia does not only cause acute injuries at vegetation close to the source, but significantly contributes to large scale nitrogen eutrophication and acidification of ecosystems because the amount of sources is high and after conversion to ammonium it can reach remote areas by long-range atmospheric transport. Besides having acute toxic potential, NH 3 and NH 4 + (= NH y) may disturb vegetation by secondary metabolic changes due to increased NH y uptake and assimilation leading to higher susceptibility to abiotic (drought, frost) and biotic (pests) stress. Prevention of damage to natural and semi-natural ecosystems will only be achieved if NH 3 emissions are drastically reduced. In this paper, the current knowledge on NH y emission, deposition, and its effects on vegetation and ecosystems are reviewed. Critical levels and critical loads for nitrogen deposition are discussed.

Effects of atmospheric ammonia on chick embryo development.

1. Two experiments were carried out in which fertile, White Leghorn eggs were individually subjected to atmospheric ammonia, for 24 h before incubation, in order to examine the effects on embryo development. 2. In experiment 1, development was unaffected by 0.35 mg/l (493 microliters/l) atmospheric ammonia and slightly reduced by 0.7 mg/l (986 microliters/l) while 7 mg/l (9,860 microliters/l) produced 100% mortality. In experiment 2, embryo development was unaffected by 0.35 mg/l atmospheric ammonia, but severely reduced by 3.15 mg/l (4,437 microliters/l).

Effect of Atmospheric Ammonia on the Surface Ultrastructure of the Lung and Trachea of Broiler Chicks

The surface ultrastructure of the lung and trachea of 7-week-old broiler chicks were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to obtain a more accurate understanding of structural changes due to atmospheric ammonia (NH3).In the first experiment, four broilers were randomly assigned to each of four chambers, and exposed to 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 ppm NH3 for 7 days. Chickens exposed to 100 ppm NH3 exhibited a large number of mucus-secreting cells that were not seen in the other treatments. Ciliary loss from the tracheal epithelium was not a consistent finding in either the exposed or the control groups. There was no evidence of goblet cell disappearance due to ammonia treatment.In the second experiment, four broilers were randomly allocated to each of four chambers and exposed to 0, 50, 75, or 100 ppm NH3 for 4 days. There was an increase in the thickness of the atrial walls and a shrinking of air capillaries with increasing NH3 concentration; in birds exposed to 75 and 100 ppm NH3, wall thickness was one to two times greater than in the control birds.There were no observable differences in gross appearance of lungs and tracheas between control and exposed groups except for hemorrhagic spots on one of the lungs exposed to 100 ppm NH3.

Effect of Atmospheric Ammonia on Pullets at Point of Lay

Results obtained show that pullets exposed to 200 ppm atmospheric ammonia for 17 days had a reduced feed intake and reduced growth rate when compared to controls. After the ammonia exposure period at point of lay, percent egg production was less and mortality greater for the ammonia exposed group versus the controls.

Effect of Atmospheric Ammonia on Laying Hen Performance

In periods of extremely cold weather, energy conservation in a pit-type laying house usually results in a restricted ventilation rate and an increase in air pollutants, particularly ammonia. Results show that 200 ppm ammonia for 17 days causes a significant loss in percent egg production and the hens lose a significant amount of weight with a reduced feed intake. Although not satisfactory, it appears that lesser amounts of ammonia (100 ppm) can be tolerated for short periods without an immediate drastic loss in laying performance if a choice has to be made between frozen waterers and cold stress versus atmospheric ammonia in the laying house.

Atmospheric Ammonia and Broiler Cockerel Performance

Effects of atmospheric ammonia at 0, 25, and 50 ppm in relation to time on broiler cockerels were studied. Average body weights, feed efficiencies, air sac scores, and paired-lung and bursa of Fabricius weights were determined from 10 birds per replicate at 28, 40, and 49 days of age. Carcass condemnations and USDA carcass grades were measured at 49 days of age.Feed efficiency at 49 days of age was significantly affected (P≤.01) by ammonia levels. Broilers subjected to 50 ppm ammonia from 1 through 49 days were least efficient. Broilers subjected to 50 and 25 ppm ammonia from 1 to 28 days and adjusted to 25 ppm ammonia from 29 to 49 days were next least efficient, followed by 50 and 25 ppm ammonia groups from 1 to 28 days and reduced to 0 ppm ammonia from 29 to 49 days. Control birds (0 ppm ammonia) from 1 to 49 days were most efficient.Average body weights, air sac scores, lung weights, and bursa of Fabricius weights as a percentage of live body weight, carcass grades, and condemnations were not significantly affected by treatment.The results indicated ammonia levels of 25 and 50 ppm from day of age in conjunction with Newcastle infectious bronchitis (Mass.) vaccination at 21 days of age can adversely affect feed efficiency of broiler cockerels and thereby increase cost of production.

Effect of Atmospheric Ammonia and the Stress of Infectious Bronchitis Vaccination on Leghorn Males

Ammonia at levels of 0, 25 or 50 parts per million (p.p.m.) was introduced into 12 controlled-environment chambers containing male Leghorn chicks. Ammonia was introduced continuously into the test chambers from the 4th to 8th week of the experiment. An infectious bronchitis vaccination was administered to all chickens at 5 weeks of age. Body weights and feed efficiencies were determined at 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age. At 4, 5, 6 and 8 weeks of age lung and bursae of Fabricius weights, hematocrits and air sac scores were determined.Body weights and feed efficiencies were significantly reduced in the ammonia chambers. The bursae of Fabricius of the ammonia-stressed chickens were significantly larger than those of controls at 5 weeks of age and significantly smaller at 8 weeks of age. Chickens grown in ammoniated environments had significantly larger lungs at 8 weeks. Hematocrits were not significantly different among the treatments. Total air sac scores were significantly higher in the ammonia-stressed chickens at 8 weeks. Results indicated that chickens are affected by the stress of ammonia at levels of 25 or 50 p.p.m. and infectious bronchitis vaccination.