Relative bioavailability of soil-bound chlordecone in growing lambs

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Toxicology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Persistent pesticide chlordecone (CLD) contamination affects agricultural land.
• Assessing CLD exposure in free-ranging ruminants is crucial for food chain safety.
• Soil binding may reduce pesticide bioavailability, impacting risk assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the bioavailability of soil-bound chlordecone (CLD) in lambs.
• Compare CLD bioavailability from contaminated soil versus spiked oil.
• Evaluate the risk of CLD contamination in the food chain from grazing animals.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-four lambs were exposed to 2, 4, or 6 μg CLD/kg body weight for 15 days.
• Exposure was administered via contaminated soil and compared to spiked oil.
• CLD concentrations were measured in lamb blood serum and kidney fat.

Main Results:

• Relative bioavailability (RBA) of soil-bound CLD did not significantly differ from the oil reference.
• Ingested CLD from contaminated soil is bioavailable in the intestinal tract.
• Soil binding does not sequester CLD, reducing its availability.

Conclusions:

• Soil-bound chlordecone (CLD) is bioavailable to grazing ruminants.
• Exposure assessment for CLD in ruminants must include contaminated soil.
• CLD contamination poses a direct risk to the food chain via animal exposure.