Poultry waste may be harmful to the environment if it contains antibiotic and hormone residues and other chemicals like arsenic.  Arsenic is a byproduct of feeding chickens Roxarsone that converts to Arsenic in chicken waste.  What is the possibility that all of the chemicals and drugs that we feed chickens ends up in their chicken waste and damages the ecosystem where the waste is deposited.  Because of this possibility we should track the location of of  all chicken waste that is deposited.  Landowners that receive the chicken waste should be provided a certification of the content of arsenic, antibiotics or other chemicals in the waste to prevent their livestock or crops from harm.

As a minimum we should keep close track of any chickens fed Roxarsone and where the Arsenic laden chicken litter is deposited on land.

How likely is it that the antibiotics used with chickens that ends up in the waste washes into rivers like the Shenandoah and James and ends up weakening the natural immune protection in fish and ultimately results in their death from some kind of infection?

The Shenandoah River and valley are as beautiful as any river or valley anywhere and this natural resource if protected will help ensure that everyone living in the valley is healthy and wealthy.

Brian Collins
703-795-8169
brian.c1@mac.com