Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
8.2.2.1.4
April 1980, corn, Ludowici, Georgia
This incident provided evidence that birds can be poisoned by eating contaminated insects. Four
cattle egrets (
Bubulcus ibis
) died and another was found moribund in a freshly planted cornfi eld.
The stomach contents of the birds contained mole crickets and a few bottle fl y larvae, and a pooled
analysis yielded 43.1 ppm carbofuran (Davidson and Steiner 1980a, 1980b; Kirkland 1989).
It is unlikely that birds as large as cattle egrets would pick up granules directly. The granules
may instead have been adhering to the insects. Alternatively, the egrets may have been scavenging
other carcasses (this would explain the fl y larvae). The Balcomb, Bowen, Wright et al. study (1984b,
reviewed previously in Section 8.2.1.5) demonstrated the hazard from earthworms contaminated
with carbofuran granules. (Another noteworthy case occurred in Switzerland where large numbers
of buzzards (
Buteo buteo
) and kites, including the threatened red kite (
Milvus milvus
) were poisoned
in fodder and sugar beet fi elds by ingesting earthworms contaminated with carbofuran - Dietrich
et al. 1995). This may also be the case for other invertebrates.
Kirkland (1989) also mentioned a kill of chipping sparrows (
Spizella passerina
) under similar
circumstances in 1977, but he provided no further details.
8.2.2.1.5
May 1983, corn, Shelby, New York
Twenty wood ducks (
Aix sponsa
), one mallard (
Anas platyrhynchos
), two killdeer (
Charadrius
vociferus
), one blue jay (
Cyanocitta cristata
), and one common grackle were found in a fi eld treated
with Furadan 15G. A complicating factor in this case is that the seed corn was coated with diazinon,
which
was
legal. The birds contained residues of both chemicals, which made it diffi cult for the
investigators to ascertain the relative contribution of each pesticide (Stone and Gradoni 1985).
8.2.2.1.6
September 1986, turnip and Lobok radishes, Richmond, British Columbia
Based on crude carcass searches and uncorrected rates, Edwards (1986) estimated that between
500 and 1 178 birds died in this incident. Most were savannah sparrows, but fi eld personnel also
recovered some Lincoln's Sparrows (
Melospiza lincolnii
). Personnel found birds throughout fi elds
planted to turnips or radishes. At the time, Furadan was registered for use on turnips but not radishes;
hence the latter was technically a misuse. Two pooled gut contents from the birds tested negative for
organophosphates but contained carbofuran levels of 26 ppm and 14 ppm. The turnips and radishes
also had carbofuran residues.
8.2.2.1.7
July 1987, green peppers, Marlboro, New Jersey
The lower acreage of some vegetable crops reduces the likelihood of fi nding and reporting kills
occurring in these 'minor' crops. Nonetheless, some documented kills have been associated with
these crops. In one incident, fi eld personnel found seven dead house fi nches (
Carpodacus mexica-
nus
) in a pepper fi eld treated with Furadan 15G. All stomach samples submitted tested positive for
carbofuran. The birds had been feeding on weed seeds on the edge of the fi eld (Stansley 1987).
8.2.2.1.8
May 1989, corn, North Garden, Virginia
Twelve songbirds of several species were exposed in a fi eld planted with Furadan 15G and fl ew to
a neighbour's yard, where they were found. Several were still alive, but immoblised. Residues of
70.3, 16.4 and 19.3 ppm were detected in the gizzards (part of the digestive tract) of two respective
robins and a chipping sparrow. In three of the birds analysed, brain cholinesterase inhibition ranged
from non-detectable to 74% inhibition (Chudoba 1989; Hayes 1989).
8.2.2.1.9
March 1990, potatoes, Modest Town, Virginia
A farmer treated his potatoes with Furadan 15G applied in-furrow at 2.5 kg ai/ha. A neighbour subse-
quently reported dead birds on his land. Field investigators later found 25 dead grackles in the potato
fi eld. The investigators noted that the planter had left some potato seeds and granules uncovered
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