Uptake of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in laying ducks was determined at different degree of
feed contamination. To observe the extent of the transfer of 17 PCDD/Fs from feed to the duck eggs and duck meat, 18 ducks were
divided into 3 groups (6 in each group) and fed feed with two different levels of PCDD/Fs. As a control, one group of ducks was
fed with the non-contaminated feed for comparison, while the other 2 groups were exposed to the feed doped with EAF dusts (fly
ash). The experiment lasted for 60 days, with an exposure duration of 41 days and the subsequent non-contaminated feed being given
for an additional 19 days. PCDD/F levels in the eggs of the all 3 groups were observed to increase significantly on the 15th day. For
the low contaminated group, PCDD/F levels reached 2.61 pg WHO-TEQ/g lipid at day 41, whereas those of the high contaminated
group accounted exceeded 3 pg/g lipid on the 15th day. Furthermore, PCDD/Fs levels in the duck meat were analyzed before and
after exposure duration, and at the end of the experiment. The results showed that the level of PCDD/F in the duck eggs and the duck
meat may reach unacceptable levels due to the effect of accumulation, although the PCDD/Fs in the duck feed were at acceptable
levels.