59
Mortality of birds due to pesticide exposure may occur through different routes, like
dermal contact, ingestion of pesticide granules, treated seeds or contaminated water or
prey (i.e. secondary poisoning), and poison baits (Fishel 2011; Guerrero et al. 2012).
The familiar second-generation pesticides like carbofuran, monocrotophos, diazinon,
parathion, and fenthion are also reported to be accountable for avian mortality (Mineau
2002). As for example, mass mortality of Swainson’s hawks due to monocrotophos
poisoning, in Argentina during 1995–1996, is a well-known phenomenon, after which
this organophosphate compound was banned in Argentina (Goldstein et al. 1999). Data
suggests that carbofuran (most toxic carbamate pesticide) has been the common cause
of poisoning in birds of prey (Novotny et al. 2011; Vlcek and Pohanka 2012). Mineau
et al. (2005) reported one of the largest mortality incidents in Canadian prairies with a
death of nearly 800 horned larks (Eremophila alpestris) and 2000 lapland longspurs
(Calcarius lapponicus) happened due to application of carbofuran granules in Canadian
agriculture fields. Similarly, spraying of carbofuran for controlling grasshopper led to
disappearance of burrowing owls in Canada (Fox et al. 1989). In 2011, DWHC reported
remarkably high (830 mg kg
−1
body weight) aldicarb in the stomach of the carcasses of
male crow, male lesser-black-backed gull, and juvenile male and female buzzards.
According to a report of BLI, around 50 types of pesticides are involved
for killing of different species of birds like songbirds, raptors, game birds,
seabirds, and shorebirds (Birdlife International 2004; http://datazone.birdlife.
Table 3.1 Acute toxicity of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides to birds and rat
Pesticide
Class
Species LD 50 mg Kg
−1
Mallard
duck
Ring-necked
pheasant
Red-winged
blackbird
European
starling
Rat
Aldicarb
Carbamates
3.4
5.34
1.78
4.22
0.8
Carbaryl
Carbamates
>2564
>2000
56
–
600
Carbofuran
Carbamates
0.480
4.15
0.42
–
11
Methiocarb
Carbamates
12.8
270
4.6
13
15–35
Azinphosmethyl
Organophosphate 136
75
8.5
27
13
Phorate
Organophosphate 0.616
7.5
1
7.5
3.7
Temephos
Organophosphate 80–100 31.5
42
>100
2000
Chlorpyrifos
Organophosphate 75.6
8.41
13
5
145
Parathion
Organophosphate 2.2
12.4
2.4
5.6
13
Fenthion
Organophosphate 5.9
17.8
1.8
5.3–17.8 235
Methylparathion
Organophosphate 10
8.21
10
7.5
14
Diazinon
Organophosphate 3.54
4.33
2.00
110
250
Malathion
Organophosphate 1485
167
400
>100
1375
Monocrotophos Organophosphate 4.76
–
1.00
3.30
18
Fenamiphos
Organophosphate 1.68
0.5–1
–
–
8.1
Adopted from Tucker and Haegele (1971), Berg (1982), Walker (1983), Hudson et al. (1984),
Schafer et al. (1983), Smith (1987). LD50 is the single oral dose of pesticide in milligrams per
kilogram of bodyweight that is required to kill 50 percent of the experimental population
3 Toxic Effects of Pesticides on Avian Fauna
Mortality of birds due to pesticide exposure may occur through different routes, like
dermal contact, ingestion of pesticide granules, treated seeds or contaminated water or
prey (i.e. secondary poisoning), and poison baits (Fishel 2011; Guerrero et al. 2012).
The familiar second-generation pesticides like carbofuran, monocrotophos, diazinon,
parathion, and fenthion are also reported to be accountable for avian mortality (Mineau
2002). As for example, mass mortality of Swainson’s hawks due to monocrotophos
poisoning, in Argentina during 1995–1996, is a well-known phenomenon, after which
this organophosphate compound was banned in Argentina (Goldstein et al. 1999). Data
suggests that carbofuran (most toxic carbamate pesticide) has been the common cause
of poisoning in birds of prey (Novotny et al. 2011; Vlcek and Pohanka 2012). Mineau
et al. (2005) reported one of the largest mortality incidents in Canadian prairies with a
death of nearly 800 horned larks (Eremophila alpestris) and 2000 lapland longspurs
(Calcarius lapponicus) happened due to application of carbofuran granules in Canadian
agriculture fields. Similarly, spraying of carbofuran for controlling grasshopper led to
disappearance of burrowing owls in Canada (Fox et al. 1989). In 2011, DWHC reported
remarkably high (830 mg kg
−1
body weight) aldicarb in the stomach of the carcasses of
male crow, male lesser-black-backed gull, and juvenile male and female buzzards.
According to a report of BLI, around 50 types of pesticides are involved
for killing of different species of birds like songbirds, raptors, game birds,
seabirds, and shorebirds (Birdlife International 2004; http://datazone.birdlife.
Table 3.1 Acute toxicity of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides to birds and rat
Pesticide
Class
Species LD 50 mg Kg
−1
Mallard
duck
Ring-necked
pheasant
Red-winged
blackbird
European
starling
Rat
Aldicarb
Carbamates
3.4
5.34
1.78
4.22
0.8
Carbaryl
Carbamates
>2564
>2000
56
–
600
Carbofuran
Carbamates
0.480
4.15
0.42
–
11
Methiocarb
Carbamates
12.8
270
4.6
13
15–35
Azinphosmethyl
Organophosphate 136
75
8.5
27
13
Phorate
Organophosphate 0.616
7.5
1
7.5
3.7
Temephos
Organophosphate 80–100 31.5
42
>100
2000
Chlorpyrifos
Organophosphate 75.6
8.41
13
5
145
Parathion
Organophosphate 2.2
12.4
2.4
5.6
13
Fenthion
Organophosphate 5.9
17.8
1.8
5.3–17.8 235
Methylparathion
Organophosphate 10
8.21
10
7.5
14
Diazinon
Organophosphate 3.54
4.33
2.00
110
250
Malathion
Organophosphate 1485
167
400
>100
1375
Monocrotophos Organophosphate 4.76
–
1.00
3.30
18
Fenamiphos
Organophosphate 1.68
0.5–1
–
–
8.1
Adopted from Tucker and Haegele (1971), Berg (1982), Walker (1983), Hudson et al. (1984),
Schafer et al. (1983), Smith (1987). LD50 is the single oral dose of pesticide in milligrams per
kilogram of bodyweight that is required to kill 50 percent of the experimental population
3 Toxic Effects of Pesticides on Avian Fauna