Effects of total dissolved solids on the accumulation of Br, As and Pb from drinking water in tissues of selected organs in broilers

Water quality constituents ingested through drinking water can affect the animal’s physiology negatively and, through bioaccumulation in tissues, pose a biohazard to consumers. The study evaluated the effectiveness of a total dissolved solid (TDS) treatment as a possible alleviator of the accumulation of potentially hazardous chemical constituents (PHCC) in drinking water in broiler tissues. The trial design was 4 treatments x 7 replicates x 12 mixed Ross broilers per replicate. Treatments were T1 = TDS (NaCl) <500 mg/L + Br, As, Pb < 0.005 mg/L, T2 = TDS <500 mg/L + Br, As, Pb 0.1 mg/L, T3 = TDS 1500 mg/L + Br, As, Pb < 0.005 mg/L, T4 = TDS 1500 mg/L + Br, As, Pb 0.1 mg/L, administered through the drinking water from Days 1 to 42. Water intake and growth performance were recorded. Broilers were slaughtered, samples taken of liver, kidney, heart, thigh and breast tissue and analysed for accumulation of elements. TDS significantly (P <0.05) effected the accumulation of elements in some tissues. This confirmed the risk of ingesting PHCC through drinking water, and showed the potential of reducing the risk of accumulating PHCC in selected tissues by the controlled application of TDS in drinking water. However, the concentration attained within a short production period did not exceed the maximum allowable concentration for these elements in broiler tissue destined for human consumption.