Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Of these, aldicarb, carbofuran and parathion are most commonly detected. We were unable to
fi nd any registered mixtures of aldicarb/parathion and carbofuran, so these are likely to have been
prepared by the perpetrators themselves. This may also be the case for the chlorpyrifos and car-
bofuran combination, though in this case, we are aware of at least one formulated mixture (see
Archer, Bynom and Plapp 1994). Before 2000, strychnine and alpha-chloralose were also often
detected. Table 5.2 lists the species known to have been poisoned with carbofuran in the Netherlands
between 1986 and 2010. The common buzzard is the most ubiquitous/populous bird of prey in
the Netherlands, the most frequently reported as poisoned, and, as such, likely the most affected
species as well.
5.3.3 Detection of carbofuran and other compounds in wildlife carcasses
Table 5.3 shows the number of wild animal carcasses submitted for analysis to the Centraal
Veterinair Institut (CVI, www.cvi.wur.nl) in which carbofuran was detected, between 1986 and
2010. The number of poisoned wildlife submitted relative to the number of confi rmed carbofuran
casualties indicates that other products (e.g., parathion and aldicarb) are more frequently used in the
Netherlands.
It is not easy to arrange for a carcass to be analysed for evidence of poisoning, especially since
it can cost anywhere from 75 to 500 euro (between 105 and 700 USD) per sample. The lowest
cost provides a postmortem evaluation, and at the highest cost, samples can be analysed for
up to fi ve groups of poisons (i.e., carbamates, carbamoyloximes, alpha-chloralose, strychnine,
coumarin derivatives and lead). Law enforcers now have very sparse budgets, so analysis is only
authorised if there is a potential offender in sight. Since this is hardly ever the case, this makes
it diffi cult to resolve the issue, leading to the considerable frustration of many fi eld biologists
and volunteers.
Carcasses are typically submitted to CVI for necropsy, then for chemical analysis using GC/
MS or HPLC-DAD (i.e., HPLC with diode array detection). CVI coordinates the study of all issues
related to both legal and illegal use of pesticides. In only a fraction of the cases that have been
studied (even when poisoning is confi rmed) has an offender been charged and found guilty. Next,
no centralised database (e.g., police database) exists where one could search for incidents of per-
secution, so we only gain a vague idea of how many cases are successfully enforced from what is
published in newspapers.
Fortunately, the Dutch working group on birds of prey (www.werkgroeproofvogels.nl) has a base
of enthusiastic volunteers who monitor an impressive number of nests each year (10 to 80% of all
nests, depending on the species). Persecution of birds of prey is therefore very thoroughly studied
and most cases are detected, which provides a good sense of the scale of poisonings occurring in the
Netherlands.
5.3.4 Recommendations
To address persecution and poisoning in the Netherlands, we would recommend increasing
the number of law enforcement agents that are dispatched to the countryside. There should also
be fewer logistical and fi nancial barriers to recovering carcasses of animals when poisoning is
suspected to have caused death. The current penalties/fi nes are not severe enough, and should be
raised accordingly. Finally, cases should be better documented so that any existing patterns can be
identifi ed. Ultimately, until our politicians and public leaders see persecution and poisoning of wild-
life as a relevant issue, even if it is not directly harmful to humans, we do not feel that many people
will take this issue seriously.
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