FORMALDEHYDE VAPOR EFFECTS IN CHICKEN-EMBRYO

A total of 763 fertile chicken eggs were divided in two groups. The eg gs of the first group were manipulated intact. The shell of each egg o f the second group was drilled at the air chamber position. The eggs o f both groups were divided in 6 subgroups and they were placed in an a utomatic incubator. Between the second and the fourth day of incubatio n each subgroup of eggs was moved to another incubator saturated with formaldehyde vapour, and it was exposed for a certain time. The hatche d chicks were examined, measured, and processed, in order to search fo r any external, visceral, and skeletal malformation. Although the chic ks of the first group did not show any particular abnormalities after their exposure to formaldehyde vapours, those of the second group were found to be affected in a rate of about 29:100. The observed embryoto xic effects of the hatched chicks of the second group were mainly earl y and late prenatal deaths, extensive and limited congenital anomalies as well as reduction deformities.