Fluorescence of Chickens and Eggs following the Feeding of Benzpyrene Crystals
Rigdon, R.H.; Neal, J.
Texas Reports on Biology and Medicine 21: 558-566
1963
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-4675 PMID: 14087157 Document Number: 3139
The skin, feathers and viscera of young chicks, fed for 6 days a commercial ration containing 0.1 to 2.5 mg of benzpyrene per gram of food, fluoresced blue. This blue fluorescence disappeared within 6 days when the benzpyrene-containing food was discontinued. Baby chicks readily ate food containing 2.5 mg of benzpyrene per gram of food and progressively gained in weight. No deaths occurred during the 24 days they were fed the benzpyrene-containing food. Benzpyrene apparently is absorbed from the intestines and is metabolized within the body. This blue fluorescence may be due either to benzpyrene or to one of its metabolites. The skin, feathers, viscera and eggs from hens fed 0.5 and 0.1 mg of benzpyrene per gram of food fluoresced a blue color. The amount of benzpyrene fed to these chickens apparently produced no injurious effects. All birds fed this hydrocarbon are now under observation for the development of neoplasms.
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