PBB fed to adult female chickens: its effect on egg production, reproduction, viability of offspring, and residues in tissues and eggs.

Two experiments with light breed laying chickens fed polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) as FireMaster FF-1. The first involved feeding PBB at dietary levels of 0.2, 1, 5, 25, 125, 625, and 3125 ppm, the second involved levels of 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120. Each group had 24 hens, and each experiment had a control group of 24 hens. PBB diets were fed for 5 weeks. Feed intake, production, reproduction, tissue residues and viability of offspring were monitored during that time and a subsequent 8 weeks. Production, hatchability, and viability of offspring were significantly affected by feeding PBB at 45 ppm. Marked inanition occurred at levels of 625 and 3125 ppm, and there was some loss of feed intake at 125 ppm. There was a return to normal production and hatchability in 3 to 4 weeks after PBB withdrawal of diets with levels of 125 ppm or less. Dose--response lines are presented for PBB in muscle, liver, kidney, adipose tissue, and eggs. Withdrawal curves for PBB from these tissues are also given.