uk.environment.conservation

Hazards to Wintering Geese and other Wildlife from the Use of
Dieldrin, Chlorfenvinphos and Carbophenothion as Wheat Seed Treatments

Journal Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B,
Biological Sciences (1934-1990)
Issue Volume 205, Number 1158 / July 18, 1979
Pages 31-45
DOI 10.1098/rspb.1979.0047


Abstract

http://tinyurl.com/2cfb6j
Chemical treatments of cereal seeds are used in the United Kingdom to
prevent damage by a number of pests including the wheat bulb fly,
which is a serious pest of winter wheat. The persistent organochlorine
dieldrin was introduced in the 1950s as a seed treatment but caused
the death of large numbers of grain eating birds and gave rise to
unacceptable environmental contamination. The withdrawal of dieldrin
as a seed treatment was made possible by the introduction of two less
persistent organophosphate insecticides, chlorfenvinphos and
carbophenothion. Although the introduction of these chemicals has been
beneficial in reducing environmental contamination, some side-effects
on wildlife have still been discernible and carbophenothion has now
been withdrawn from use in Scotland owing to the deaths of wintering
geese from carbophenothion poisoning. Subsequent laboratory studies
have demonstrated that Anser geese are particularly susceptible to
carbophenothion poisoning, and the underlying biochemical mechanism
has been investigated. The fundamental problem of species variation in
toxicity among the organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides which
this investigation illustrates presents difficulties for registration
authorities when they are considered for clearance for agricultural
use. The implications of the environmental problems encountered with
dieldrin, chlorfenvinphos and carbophenothion for the pre-clearance
testing of new chemicals are discussed and the critical surveillance
of the early years of commercial use of a chemical is recommended to
support pre-clearance studies aimed at assessing the potential hazard
to the environment.

full article
http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/content/a1663058w7218152/fulltext.pdf