Dear Nick and Friends--Well maybe not.... The problem is
arsenic. 80 percent of all commercially raised broilers (and some
laying hens) are fed an arsenic compound as a growth stimulant. See,
for example:
http://scienceline.org/2006/09/20/env-wenner-arsenic/
http://news.softpedia.com/news/A-Great-Peril-From-Arsenic-Fed-Chicken-Meat-51554.shtml
http://www.speciation.net/Public/News/2007/01/11/2579.html
An Internet search will show up a lot more info.
When the arsenic contaminated chicken poop is burned (or charred or
whatever) the arsenic is volatilized and goes into the air, spreading
inorganic arsenic compounds all over the Kingdom. This is a very bad
thing as not only is arsenic a well know toxin it is, even at very
low levels, below the "toxic" level, an equally well known human
carcinogen. A Maryland farmer was recently denied a permit for a
chicken poop-to-energy plant because of the arsenic contamination of
the poop. In fact, any waste material with more than 5 ppm inorganic
arsenic is probably a RCRA hazardous waste and should be buried in
special landfills designed to handle hazardous wastes!
And just think about it folks, every time you eat chicken--at home or
with Colonel Sanders--that isn't organically raised, or at least
"natural", you have a good chance of getting your dose of arsenic for the day!
Bon Appetit! Tom
P.S.: The jury is still out on biochar. It may not be all that it
is cracked up to be. I think that composting any organic material
that can be composted is better than burning/charring it. Aerobic
composting, overall, sees a "carbon savings" (carbon not put into the
air) of about 20 percent. Maybe not quite what biochar claims, but
then all of the other pyrolysis products are NOT being put into the
air as well.
******************************************
Tom Shelley
118 E. Court St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
607 342-0864
[email protected]
Learn more about the Sustainable Chicken Project at
http://steephollowfarm.wordpress.com/
http://www.myspace.com/99319958 (Last updated 6/13/09.)
http://www.facebook.com/129295929#/home.php (Last updated 6/13/09.)
Compost Educator and Sustainability Scion*
What Does Zero Waste Mean?
"If it can't be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished,
refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be
restricted, redesigned, or removed from production."
Berkeley Zero Waste Resolution
See http://www.cityofberkeley.info/council8/newsletter.pdf
*noun: a shoot or bud of a plant, esp. one for planting or grafting
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