September 25, 2015
Alltech survey reveals 25% of clay-based mycotoxin binders highly contaminated with heavy metals
According to the 2015 Alltech heavy metal, dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) survey, clay-based mycotoxin binders could be contaminated with toxic levels of at least two different heavy metals, potentially compromising animal health.
Following previous surveys of trace minerals, Alltech had undertook the survey throughout South Asia on samples of clay-, yeast- and enzyme-based mycotoxin binders.
Forty-eight samples were submitted as part of the survey and analysed for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) with an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) within Alltech''s laboratory facilities in Bangalore, India.
Dr. Lokesh Gupta, technical manager, Alltech South Asia, said, "The results were quite alarming. All of the clay-based mycotoxin binders tested contained a mix of potentially toxic elements: lead, arsenic and cadmium."
All of the inorganic clay-based mycotoxin binders samples collected from feed manufacturers and farmers were contaminated with at least two different heavy metals. 25% of these samples were contaminated with at least one heavy metal above EU maximum levels; either with lead (6.25%), arsenic (12.5%) or cadmium (6.25%). Extremely high levels were seen in some samples where cadmium was detected at up to 9.23 ppm whereas the acceptable EU limits is just 2 ppm.
"These heavy metals can play havoc with animal health, suppressing the immune system or damaging the liver and kidneys," said Dr. Gupta.
"High contamination levels of heavy metals are commonly found in clay-based mycotoxin binders due to the mining and manufacturing processes. PCBs and dioxins are emerging outcomes of environmental pollution, resulting in bio-accumulation in soil and in turn, entry into the food chain," added Anitha Upadhyaya, quality manager, Alltech Asia-Pacific. "The results emphasised that feed manufacturers and farmers should be asking suppliers to provide evidence that their products are free from heavy metal contamination, considering the impact on animal health and performance as well as consumer safety."