Abstract

                                Salinomycin sodium (BIO COX) is a polyether ionophore, commonly used in the poultry industries for the prevention of coccidial infections and promotion of growth. Salinomycin sodium (SAL-Na) is very toxic, and may be fatal, if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin than many other antibiotics, thus evaluating its fate in the soil environment is of importance. Mobility of SAL-Na was measured in sandy soil. Soil column leaching experiments indicated that the strongly sorbed SAL-Na was not detected in the leachate of sandy soils, indicating that the amount added to each column was not leached off the soil fractions. When compared to the sterile soil, non sterile soil has more movement of SAL-Na. Leachate collected from the soil column (75% hydraulic conductivity) passed with phosphate buffer showed higher concentration (0.48 mg/L) of SAL-Na and the movement was also observed higher in non sterile soil. About 35% of SAL-Na was found in leachate of sandy soil.

Key words : SAL-Na, Soil, Mobility, Environmental consequences.