Residue accumulation, distribution, and withdrawal period of sulfamethazine and N-acetylsulfamethazine in poultry waste from broilers.

Sulfamethazine is one of the most frequently used sulfonamides in the poultry farming industry. However, the residue accumulation, distribution, and depletion of sulfamethazine (SMZ) and its metabolite, N4-acetylsulfamethazine (NAS), in poultry waste (manure and feathers) have yet to be evaluated. In our study, the residue levels of SMZ and NAS in manure and feathers are determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the distribution, depletion, and withdrawal period of SMZ and NAS in manure and feathers are investigated under field conditions. Results show that high concentrations (0.7-43.3 mg/kg for SMZ, and 0.22-22.4 mg/kg for NAS) of SMZ and NAS residues remain in manure and feathers even when SMZ has been used. The withdrawal periods of SMZ and NAS in feathers are 97.0 d and 28.0 d, respectively. In manure, the withdrawal period is 18.2 d and 8.0 d, respectively. Poultry waste is a possible major reentry way of SMZ into the food chain and the environment.