Maize stover burning exposure accountable for remarkable environmental and health risk in broiler chickens

TL;DR

Exposure to maize stover burning harms broiler chickens, causing serious health issues and environmental risks.

Contribution

This study reveals the health risks of maize stover burning on broiler chickens through blood and tissue analysis.

Findings

Elevated CO and PM2.5 levels during burning correlate with increased blood coagulation and cardiovascular risks.

Respiratory function in broilers decreased due to airway obstruction and lung tissue damage like fibrosis.

Liver enzyme levels and systemic embolic phenomena were significantly higher during the burning season.

Abstract

Biomass burning presents significant environmental and health problems worldwide. Health effects on broilers (as an animal model) exposed to intensive maize stover burning (MSB) were studied. Carbon monoxide (CO) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were estimated during the MSB season. Sixty apparently healthy broilers from 12 farms were included for blood-gas analysis, bilirubin, and liver enzyme analysis. In addition, histopathological changes of the lung, liver, and heart were investigated.

Highly significant differences for CO and PM2.5 levels, hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Hct) values during MSB season were found compared to burning free events which resulted in higher incidence of blood coagulation and cardiovascular diseases risk. Highly significant elevations of liver enzymes were verified during MSB. Respiratory function was significantly decreased due to airway obstruction accompanied by severe tissue damage including pulmonary fibrosis (39%) and metaplasia. Pulmonary and hepatic blood vessel embolisms were indicative of systemic embolic phenomena.

The study highlighted the substantial health risk and a threat to air quality from one season exposure to leftover straw burning. Agriculture waste burning should be banned by legislation to restore the environment and protect health.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-025-04476-7.

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