US EPA

5188020 

Journal Article 

Pesticide incidence in poisoned baits: A 10-year report 

Chiari, M; Cortinovis, C; Vitale, N; Zanoni, M; Faggionato, E; Biancardi, A; Caloni, F 

2017 

1 

Science of the Total Environment
ISSN: 0048-9697
EISSN: 1879-1026 

Elsevier B.V. 

601-602 

285-292 

English 

28564626 

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.158 

WOS:000406294900030 

The incidence of pesticides in poisoned baits recovered from 2005 to 2014 in Italian northern regions of Emilia Romagna and Lombardy was analysed. A total of 956 baits tested positive for pesticides during the study period. In 9.3% (n=89) of the baits analysed more than one toxic compound was present. Insecticides (53.2%) proved to be the pesticides most commonly involved followed by rodenticides (34.3%), molluscicides (12.3%) and herbicides (0.2%). Among insecticides, the anticholinesterases (organophosphates and carbamates) were the most frequently detected (59.1%, n=412) followed by organochlorines (39.8%; n=277). Anticoagulants proved to be the rodenticides most commonly involved (78.5%; n=353) with many baits containing brodifacoum or bromadiolone, while metaldehyde was the most used molluscicide (88.2%; n=142). A high number of baits contained banned pesticides such as endosulfan, methamidophos, carbofuran and strychnine indicating that the restrictions and the bans on the use of toxic and highly toxic pesticides are not accompanied by a lower use in poisoned baits. The high incidence of banned pesticides detected in the present survey is extremely worrying and poses the question of where and how these compounds were obtained. Efforts have to be made to reduce this illegal practice and its environmental impact. Moreover, education and awareness campaigns should be instituted. 

Insecticides; Italy; Molluscicides; Pesticides; Poison Baits; Rodenticides; Environmental impact; Insecticides; Rat control; Awareness campaigns; Illegal practices; Italy; Molluscicides; Northern regions; Poison Baits; Rodenticides; Toxic pesticides; Pesticides; anticoagulant agent; brodifacoum; bromadiolone; carbamic acid; carbofuran; cholinesterase inhibitor; endosulfan; herbicide; insecticide; metaldehyde; methamidophos; molluscacide; organochlorine derivative; organophosphate; pesticide; rodenticide; strychnine; insecticide; pesticide; anticoagulant; bait; carbamate pesticide; herbicide; insecticide; organophosphorus pesticide; rodenticide; Article; awareness; controlled study; education; environmental impact; government regulation; Italy; legal aspect; priority journal; animal welfare; incidence; Emilia-Romagna; Italy; Lombardy; Emilia; Strychnos toxifera; Animal Welfare; Incidence; Insecticides; Italy; Pesticides