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Atrazine Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review

The herbicide atrazine (2chloro4ethylamino6isopropylamino1,3,5triazine) is the most heavily used agricultural pesticide in North America. Domestically, more than 50 million kg are applied yearly to more than 25 million ha, primarily to control weeds in corn and sorghum crops. Atrazine residues have been detected in runoff from treated fields in lakes and streams at phytotoxic levels. Birds and mammals were comparatively resistant, with a low probability for atrazine accumulation and retention. Data are lacking on indirect effects of atrazine on wildlife granivores and insectivores. Direct effects to aquatic fauna occur at 94 micrograms/l, and higher; however, indirect effects may occur at 20 micrograms/l, and higher, partly through reduction of the food supply of herbivores, and partly through loss of macrophyte habitat. Ecological and toxicological aspects of atrazine in the environment are briefly reviewed, with special emphasis on fishery and wildlife resources.

Contaminant Hazard Reviews

Molybdenum Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review

Ecological and toxicological aspects of molybdenum (Mo) in the environment are briefly reviewed, with emphasis on fish and wildlife. Subtopics include sources and uses, chemical properties, mode of action, background concentrations in biological and nonbiological samples, and lethal and sublethal effects on terrestrial plants and invertebrates, aquatic organisms, birds, and mammals. Current recommendations for Mo and the protection of sensitive living resources are presented.

Contaminant Hazard Reviews

Pentachlorophenol Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is now widely used as a wood preservative, and this has contributed to the detection of PCP residues in air, rain, groundwaters, surface waters, fish and aquatic invertebrates, and in human urine, blood, and milk of nursing mothers. This report briefly reviews the technical literature on ecological and toxicological aspects of PCP in the environment, with emphasis on fishery and wildlife resources. Subtopics include sources and uses, chemical properties, fate, background concentrations, lethal and sublethal effects, and current recommendations for resource protection

Contaminant Hazard Reviews

Nickel Hazards to Fish, Wildlife and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review

This account is a selective review and synthesis of the technical literature on nickel and nickel salts in the environment and their effects on terrestrial plants and invertebrates, aquatic plants and animals, avian and mammalian wildlife, and other natural resources, The subtopics include nickel sources and uses; physical, chemical, and metabolic properties of nickel; nickel concentrations in field collections of abiotic materials and living organisms; nickel deficiency effects; lethal and sublethal effects, including effects on survival, growth, reproduction, metabolism, mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and carcinogenicity; currently proposed nickel criteria for the protection of human health and sensitive natural resources; and recommendations for additional research.

Contaminant Hazard Reviews

Sodium Monofluoroacetate (1080) Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review

Sodium monofluoroacetate (CH2FCOONa), also known as 1080, domestic use is currently restricted to livestock-protection collars on sheep and goats to selectively kill depredating coyotes. The chemical is readily absorbed by ingestion or inhalation. At lethal doses, metabolic conversion of fluoroacetate to fluorocitrate results in the accumulation of citrate in the tissues and death within 24 h from ventricular fibrillation or from respiratory failure; no antidote is available. At sublethal doses, the toxic effects of 1080 are reversible. Primary and secondary poisoning of nontarget vertebrates may accompany the use of 1080. The use of 1980 seems warranted in the absence of suitable alternative control methods.

Contaminant Hazard Reviews

Famphur Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review

Famphur (phosphorothioic acid, O,(4((dimethylamino)sulfonyl),phenoyl)O,Odimethyl ester), also known as Warbex, is a systemic organophosphorus insecticide used almost exclusively as a veterinary chemical to control parasite in livestock. Only famphur and its oxygen analog, famoxon, were of toxicological significance; other famphur metabolites were 31 to 237 times less toxic, as Judged by acute oraltoxicity tests in the mouse (Mus sp.). Famphur is administered to livestock by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, through the diet, as a dermal pour-on, or as an oral bolus. Current recommendations include the discontinuance of topical applications of famphur to cattle because of its association with primary and secondary poisoning of birds, and more research on famphur in the three areas of latent effects on treated livestock, fate and effects in aquatic ecosystems, and carcinogenicity evaluation.

Contaminant Hazard Reviews

Chlordane Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review

Technical chlordane is an organochlorine compound first introduced into the United States in 1947 in a variety of formulations for use as a broad-spectrum pesticide. By 1974, about 9.5 million kilograms of chlordane were produced annually. Concern over the potential carcinogenicity of chlordane has led to sharply curtailed production. Since 1983, chlordane use in the United States has been prohibited, except for control of underground termites. Chlordane is readily absorbed by warmblooded animals through skin, diet, and inhalation, and distributed throughout the body. In general, residues of chlordane and its metabolites are not measurable in tissues 4 to 8 weeks after exposure, although metabolism rates varied significantly between species. Food chain biomagnification is usually low, except in some marine mammals. In most mammals, the metabolite oxychlordane has proven much more toxic and persistent than the parent chemical.

Contaminant Hazard Reviews

Diflubenzuron Hazards to Fish, Wildlife and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review

Diflubenzuron (1(4chlorophenyl)3(2,6difluorobenzoyl)urea), also known as dimilin, is a potent broad spectrum insect growth regulator that interferes with chitin synthesis at time of molting and is effective in controlling immature stages of insects. Diflubenzuron was approved for domestic use in 1976 to control gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), and in 1979 against the cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis). By 1989 this compound was also registered for domestic use against mosquitos, forest Lepidoptera, mushroom flies, and leaf-eating insect pests of citrus, woody ornamentals, vegetables, and fruit. Diflubenzuron seldom persists for more than a few days in soil and water. When used properly in forest management, it is unlikely to be leached into ground water from the application site. Degradation in water and soil is most rapid when small particle formulations are applied; microorganisms are abundant; and at elevated pH, temperature, and organic loading. Chemical and biological processes initially yield 2,6difluorobenzoic acid and 4chlorophenylurea.

Contaminant Hazard Reviews

Boron Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review

Ecological and toxicological aspects of boron (B) in the environment are reviewed, with emphasis on natural resources. Subtopics covered include environmental chemistry, background concentrations, effects, and current recommendations for the protection of living resources. Boron is not now considered essential in mammalian nutrition, although low dietary levels protect against fluorosis and bone demineralization. Excessive consumption (i.e., >1,000 mg B/kg diet, >15 mg B/kg body weight daily, >1.0 mg B/L drinking water, or >210 mg B/kg body weight in a single dose) adversely affects growth, survival, or reproduction in sensitive mammals. Boron and its compounds are potent teratogens when applied directly to the mammalian embryo, but there is no evidence of mutagenicity or carcinogenicity. Boron`s unique affinity for cancerous tissues has been exploited in neutron capture radiation therapy of malignant human brain tumors. Current boron criteria recommended for the protection of sensitive species include <0.3 mg B/L in crop irrigation waters, <1.0 mg B/L for aquatic life, <5.0 mg B/L in livestock drinking waters, <30 mg B/kg in waterfowl diets, and <100 mg B/kg in livestock diets.

Contaminant Hazard Reviews

Paraquat Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review

Paraquat (1,1`dimethyl4,4`bipyridinium) are broad-spectrum contact plant killers and herbage desiccants that were introduced commercially during the past 25 years. Today, they rank among the most widely used herbicides globally and are frequently used in combination with other herbicides. The recommended paraquat field application rates for terrestrial weed control usually range between 0.28 and 1.12 kg/ha (0.25 and 1.0 lb/acre), and for aquatic weed control the range is 0.12.0 mg/l. Paraquat in surface soils generally photodecomposes in several weeks, but paraquat in subsurface soils and sediments may remain bound and biologically unavailablefor many years without significant degradation. Paraquat is not significantly accumulated by earthworms and other species of soil invertebrates and is usually excreted rapidly by higher animals; however, delayed toxic effects including death of birds and mammals are common. At concentrations below the recommended application rate, paraquat is embryotoxic to developing eggs of migratory waterfowl and adversely affects sensitive species of freshwater algae and macrophytes, larvae of crustaceans and frog tadpoles and carp. Sensitive species of birds are negatively affected at daily dose rates of 10 mg/kg body weight or when fed diets containing 20 mg/kg ration or drinking water containing 40 mg/l.

Contaminant Hazard Reviews

Silver Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review

Ecological and toxicological aspects of silver (Ag) in the environment are briefly summarized with an emphasis on natural resources. Elevated silver concentrations in biota occur in the vicinities of sewage outfalls, electroplating plants, mine waste sites, and silver-iodide seeded areas; in the United States, the photography industry is the major source of anthropogenic silver discharges into the biosphere. Silver and its compounds are not known to be mutagenic, teratogenic, or carcinogenic. Under normal routes of exposure, silver does not pose serious environmental health problems to humans at less than 50.0 ug total Ag/L drinking water or 10.0 ug per cubic meter air. Free silver ion, however, was lethal to representative species of sensitive aquatic plants, invertebrates, and teleosts at nominal water concentrations of 1.2 to 4.9 ug/L; sublethal effects were significant between 0.17 and 0.6 ug/L. Silver was harmful to poultry at concentrations as low as 1.8 mg total Ag/kg whole egg fresh weight by way of injection, 100.0 mg total Ag/L in drinking water, or 200.0 mg total Ag/kg in diets; sensitive mammals were adversely affected at total silver concentrations as low as 250.0 ug/L in drinking water, 6.0 mg/kg in diets, or 13.9 mg/kg whole body.

Contaminant Hazard Reviews