Potential for Ground and Surface Water Contamination From
Arsenic Species in Poultry Operations With Historical Use of

Roxarsone (ROX)

Project Type

This is an EPA Region 6 Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE)
project established between EPA's Ground Water and Ecosystem
Restoration Division (Steve Hutchins, Project Officer) and EPA
Region 6 (Chris Lister, Project Officer).

Project Period

May 26, 2008 to present

Project Summary

Antibiotics are often included in the feed of broilers in the U.S.
poultry industry to increase the rate of weight gain and improve the
efficiency of feed use. The arsenical drug roxarsone (ROX) is used
to improve weight gain, feed utilization, and pigmentation. ROX is by far the most common arsenic-based additive
used m chicken feed and is mixed in the diet of about 70 percent of the 9 billion broiler chickens produced annually
in the United States. Although some producers have discontinued use of roxarsone since 2004, vast quantities of
poultry litter contaminated with ROX have been and continue to be applied to agricultural fields. ROX can be
transformed to produce the more toxic and more mobile inorganic arsenic species arsenic(III) and arsenic(V),
which can then undergo biomethylation to produce even more toxic arsenic species. Long-term exposure to
inorganic arsenic can cause bladder, lung, skin, kidney, and colon cancer, as well as deleterious immunological,
neurological, and endocrine effects. Low-level exposure can lead to partial paralysis and diabetes.

The objectives of this RARE project are to characterize the
distribution of organic and inorganic arsenic species in surface
water, ground water, and soils at or adjacent to agricultural fields
receiving poultry litter from operations known to have used ROX
or similar arsenical drugs. The proposed research will be primarily
field-oriented in nature; specific details regarding access and
monitoring will depend on the nature and number of sites that are
selected. Ideally, EPA Region 6 will be able to identify at least one
commercial poultry operation for study and to coordinate site
access. Soil cores will be collected at 0, 1, and 3 meters below
ground surface at the land application site for physical and
chemical characterization (including arsenic speciation). At
suitable locations, 2-inch PVC monitoring wells screened through
the water table would be constmcted. Over a two-year study period, the site would be sampled semi-annually to
account for seasonal variability (four sampling events total). Each sample event would also include a sample of the
associated poultry litter or wastewater used for land application, as well as any surface waters suspected of being
impacted.

The National Risk Management Research Laboratory's mission is to advance scientific and engineering
solutions that enable EPA and others to effectively manage current and future environmental risks.
NRMRL possesses unique strengths and capabilities and is dedicated to providing credible
technological information and scientific solutions that support national priorities
and protect human health and the environment.


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The primary target analytes will include the organic arsenicals and intermediates:

•	Roxarsone (ROX)

•	o-Arsanilic acid (OArS)

•	p-Arsanilic acid (PArS)

•	3-Amino-4-hydroxybenzenearsonic acid (3A4)

•	Inorganic arsenic species - As(III), As(V)

•	Methylated products - MMA, DMA

Ground and surface water samples will also be characterized for several additional parameters to define the water
chemistry and determine whether other micropollutants may be of concern. Data from the initial sampling event
will be analyzed and used to plan for additional sample events to fill data gaps or address other locations on site.
Collectively, the physical and chemical data will be evaluated to determine whether arsenic compounds are present
in the site matrices and whether these compounds are sequestered or are available for transport away from the site
with potential impact to downgradient receptors.

To date, EPA has not been able to find a suitable site for study and so this project has not yet started.

Products

None at this time.

Contact

Steve Hutchins

The National Risk Management Research Laboratory's mission is to advance scientific and engineering
solutions that enable EPA and others to effectively manage current and future environmental risks.
NRMRL possesses unique strengths and capabilities and is dedicated to providing credible
technological information and scientific solutions that support national priorities
and protect human health and the environment.


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