Pesticide Poisoning Report 2011 - SASA

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SUMMARYThe Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) operated in Scotland by Science andAdvice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) Pesticides & Wildlife Branchhttp://www.sasa.gov.uk/wildlife-environment/wildlife-incident-investigation-scheme-wiisinvestigates suspected poisoning of wildlife, beneficial insects, companion animals andlivestock if there is evidence to indicate that pesticides or biocides 1 may be involved.The scheme, together with similar schemes operating in England & Wales and NorthernIreland, provides a means of post-registration surveillance of pesticide use throughoutthe UK, so that registration may be revised if necessary. These schemes also providea measure of the success of the pesticide registration process and help in theverification and improvement of the risk assessments made in the registration ofcompounds. Incidents of approved use and of misuse can highlight problems with theapproval conditions or the label instructions for a pesticide, and can provide valuablefeedback into the regulatory process.The scheme in Scotland also provides evidence that can be used by the ScottishGovernment or the police, to enforce legislation relating to the safe use of pesticidesand the protection of food, the environment and animals.In 2011, there were 237 incidents (which included 5 bee incidents) submitted to theWIIS Scotland. This represented a slight increase compared to the 233 received in2010. Four incidents were excluded 2 , leaving 233 incidents accepted for furtherinvestigation. The cause of death or illness was determined in 129 incidents. Ninetyfour incidents (40% of all incidents accepted into the WIIS Scotland) tested positive forpesticides and other chemicals 3 . Twenty-five of these incidents were attributed topesticide poisoning.Sixteen incidents were categorised as abuse, 5 incidents were attributed to unspecifieduse, one incident followed approved use and 3 incidents were categorised as misuse.Eighteen different pesticides or chemicals were identified (see Table 2). Theinsecticide, carbofuran was detected in 9 out of 16 (56%) incidents categorised asabuse, even though UK approval for use of products containing this chemical expired in2001.Selected samples were also screened for evidence of exposure to anticoagulantrodenticides. Residues of various anticoagulant rodenticides were detected in 87 out of210 incidents (i.e. 41% of those incidents selected for rodenticide screening). Thesecond generation anticoagulant rodenticides, bromadiolone, brodifacoum anddifenacoum were found to be the most prevalent active ingredients detected.1 In recent years, some non-agricultural pesticides have been classified as biocides e.g. anticoagulant rodenticides.However, throughout this report ‘pesticide’ or ‘pesticides’ will be used as the generic terminology.23Excluded refers to incidents where the criteria for acceptance into the WIIS Scotland have not been met or wherethere is no suitable material for analysis.Includes incidents that involved veterinary medicines and ethylene glycol.1
INTRODUCTION1. In the United Kingdom the impact of pesticide use on non-target vertebratewildlife and other animals including honey bees, companion animals andlivestock, is assessed before approval is granted by the regulatory body. Inorder to protect animals, restrictions on use may be imposed in the conditions ofapproval made under the Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR) 1986 (asamended) or the Plant Protection Products Regulations (2011), where it isthought that an unacceptable risk would arise.2. The WIIS Scotland is one of four schemes, operating in the United Kingdom,which investigates possible pesticide poisoning of animals. The WIIS Scotlandis operated by SASA’s Pesticides & Wildlife Branch on behalf of the ScottishGovernment Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities Directorate (AFRC). Theprocedures for incident investigation are described in Appendix I.3. Incidents confirmed as involving pesticides that were considered to beresponsible for the cause of death or illness of an animal or that contravenerelated legislation are assigned to one of the following categories:Approved use of the product, according to the specified conditions ofuse;Misuse of a product, by careless, accidental or wilful failure to adhere tothe correct practice;Abuse of a pesticide, in the form of deliberate, illegal attempts to poisonanimals;Unspecified use, where the cause could not be assigned to one of theabove categories. Veterinary use, where subsequent investigation identifies theinvolvement of a pesticide formulated as a veterinary medicine. Suchcases are investigated incidentally rather than deliberately, and mayinclude abuse, misuse, approved use, or unspecified use of the relevantcompounds.4. The results of investigations are ultimately reported to the Environmental Panelof the UK Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP)http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/advisorygroups/acp. Theinformation provided may result in a re-evaluation of the approvals previouslygranted to products, or may affect the progress to full commercial use ofproducts currently under provisional approval. Information from incidents assistsin the validation and improvement of the risk assessment procedures used bythe regulatory body for new and existing compounds.5. The majority of this post-registration surveillance activity is funded by theagricultural and non-agricultural sectors of the pesticide industry, under the Food2
Page 1: Pesticide Poisoning ofAnimals in 20
Page 4 and 5: PESTICIDE POISONINGOF ANIMALS IN 20
Page 8 and 9: and Environment Protection Act 1985
Page 10 and 11: Table 1: Number of incidents invest
Page 12 and 13: Species or sample typeNumber tested
Page 14 and 15: was the likely cause of the illness
Page 16 and 17: ANTICOAGULANT RODENTICIDES16. Non-t
Page 18 and 19: APPENDIX IINVESTIGATION PROCEDUREST
Page 20 and 21: SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS THAT TESTED PO
Page 22 and 23: Ref. Month Region Chemical Category
Page 26: Ref. Month Region Chemical Category
Page 33: APPENDIX IIIREGIONS IN SCOTLAND USE

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