The World Health Organization (WHO) has a lot of things to say in its Toxicity Report about sodium fluoroacetate (1080) but the bits that stand out for me are the following:
1.4.4 Unintended effects: very toxic to birds, domestic animals and wildlife. High risk of secondary poisoning to carnivorous and omnivorous species from eating poisoned carcasses.
4.1.3 .... Baits should not be used where there is a risk of contaminating food, animal feeding stuffs or drinking or washing water. Exposed baits should be laid in containers clearly marked "Poison". Baits should not be laid unless all access by children and animals other than rats and mice can be prevented. Except in locked unoccupied premises baits should not remain down for more than 24 hours. All exposed baits and their containers should be removed after treatment and burned. Rodent bodies should be searched for and destroyed by burning.
After reading this, it's surprising to read that the Animal Health Board says in a letter to Kaka "we strongly disagree with your claims that our operations will result in the decimation of native birdlife or contamination of the soil, water and air." Even Steve Chadwick said last year that 1080 breaks down in water.
1.4.4 Unintended effects: very toxic to birds, domestic animals and wildlife. High risk of secondary poisoning to carnivorous and omnivorous species from eating poisoned carcasses.
4.1.3 .... Baits should not be used where there is a risk of contaminating food, animal feeding stuffs or drinking or washing water. Exposed baits should be laid in containers clearly marked "Poison". Baits should not be laid unless all access by children and animals other than rats and mice can be prevented. Except in locked unoccupied premises baits should not remain down for more than 24 hours. All exposed baits and their containers should be removed after treatment and burned. Rodent bodies should be searched for and destroyed by burning.
After reading this, it's surprising to read that the Animal Health Board says in a letter to Kaka "we strongly disagree with your claims that our operations will result in the decimation of native birdlife or contamination of the soil, water and air." Even Steve Chadwick said last year that 1080 breaks down in water.
If this is so, why do all the labels and reports about 1080 toxicity say the opposite? Have we become deaf to the truth because 1080 is a lazy and convenient option?
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You say that "Even Steve Chadwick said last year that 1080 breaks down in water. If this is so, why do all the labels and reports about 1080 toxicity say the opposite?"
ReplyDeleteThe site you link to with the report states the poison is "a water soluble salt of very high mammalian toxicity which is used mainly as a rodenticide" and "Solubility: water at 20°C very soluble".