Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
(P. McMullen, Chemagro, personal communication), the sale of Furadan resumed in the lower main-
land in 1986. The kills resumed a short time later.
8.2.2.2.4
1977, turnip, Fraser Valley, British Columbia
About 50 ducks were found in this incident (NRCC 1979). Few details are available, except that
this die-off followed the usual pattern we have described in previous case studies (P.A. Whitehead,
Canadian Wildlife Service, personal communication). In view of the voluntary withdrawal in effect
on the product, authorities assumed that the kill was caused by the use of old stock.
8.2.2.2.5
Autumn 1986/winter 1987, turnip, Richmond, British Columbia
Immediately after the reintroduction of granular Furadan to the lower mainland of British Columbia,
there was a large kill of savannah and Lincoln's sparrows (refer back to 8.2.2.1.6). In the same fi eld,
investigators found badly decayed duck carcasses in the late autumn and winter after the kill. There
was some question as to whether the kills were the result of the 5G or 10G formulation because the
farmer had purchased both products. Investigators did not try to do a formal survey of waterfowl
carcasses for this incident (P.A. Whitehead, Canadian Wildlife Service, personal communication).
8.2.2.2.6
Autumn 1989/winter 1990, Richmond and area, British Columbia
Bystanders turned in approximately ten bald eagles and red-tailed hawks (
Buteo jamaicensis
) to a
bird of prey rehabilitation centre; these birds contained duck and gull remains. No waterfowl kill
was offi cially reported to authorities that winter, suggesting, again, that only a small proportion of
kills is ever reported. (Section 8.5 on secondary poisonings provides further detail on this incident.)
8.2.2.2.7
April/May 1990, corn, Smyrna, Delaware
In the Smyrna incident, a farmer applied Furadan 15G to corn in-furrow at 1.3 kg ai/ha. The investi-
gator found that the equipment was new, in good working order, and properly calibrated. Ironically,
FMC Corp had featured the farmer in a training video on the proper application of granular Furadan.
The farmer noted that snow geese (
Anser caerulescens
) were foraging in the fi eld on the day of appli-
cation. About 2.5 centimetres of rain fell on the evening after application, producing two or three
pockets of water in low-lying areas. The next day, the farmer observed some convulsing birds in the
fi eld and subsequently contacted wildlife authorities. The fi eld investigator collected 34 snow geese,
seven ducks (mallards and green-winged teal), and one laughing gull (
Larus atricilla
) and also found
dead earthworms and frogs in the furrows. During a second visit a few days later, the investigating
offi cer found three more dead ducks and more dead frogs.
A similar incident occurred in another cornfi eld a few kilometres away. Again, the application
was in-furrow. At least four mallards died in that fi eld and there were dead earthworms in the fur-
rows. The investigating offi cer could see no evidence of any granules having been left on the soil
surface (Kuncir 1990).
These incidents illustrate that water bird mortality after puddling in fi elds treated with granular
carbofuran is not restricted to the acidic organic soils of the lower mainland of British Columbia.
There are many reported kills associated with the use of granular carbofuran in rice (refer to Section
8.2.2.2.9). Furthermore, some waterfowl mortality incidents caused by granular carbofuran used in
corn have come to light as a result of the US EPA Special Review.
8.2.2.2.8
January 1990, corn, Twitchell Island, California
Investigators found an estimated 155 dead ducks and geese, one red-tailed hawk, and four northern
harriers in a fl ooded cornfi eld. One duck's gizzard contained 17 ppm carbofuran and two pieces of
corn. One harrier had the remains of a songbird in its stomach. The songbird's gizzard content con-
tained 3.9 ppm carbofuran.
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