Rodenticides being used Locally
By Elly Labay and Andy Lavine
Rodenticide, more informally known as rat poison, is a tool used to kill rats, mice, and other rodent pests. They attract rodents through scented baits. However, due to the harmful effects it has on other animals and the environment, rodenticide has become a controversial topic. Rodenticides are detrimental to the environment that they are placed in, and often cause harm towards their respective ecosystems.
There are three primary types of rodenticides that exist in today’s market. The primary types are anticoagulants, or chemicals that prevent the clotting of blood, causing animals to bleed internally and die as a result. The rodenticides mostly used by consumers are first-generation anticoagulants. These rodenticides require multiple feedings in order to kill pests. The second type, primarily used by pest control professionals, are second-generation anticoagulants. These poisons require only one feeding to administer a lethal dose. However, it can take 5-7 days to kill the rodent, and the anticoagulants persist in rodent carcasses after death. Finally, some rodenticides are non-anticoagulants, which use other methods like damaging the organs or the nerves.
Many rodenticides are dangerous, and can even be “toxic when inhaled and when they come into contact with skin” (Rodenticides). As such, there are some key restrictions when using them. First, many second-generation rodenticides are illegal to be used by the public. Chemicals such as brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, and difethialone are all illegal to be used by general consumers because of the safety hazards they pose including their extreme toxicity to people, pets, and wildlife. Additionally, there are restrictions on where rodenticides may be used. For consumers, all rodenticides must be placed within 50 feet of a building, so as not to disrupt the surrounding environment. Pest control professionals, who generally have a better sense of where the rodenticide must be placed, can put the chemical within 100 feet of any building. Specifically, in California, no second-generation rodenticides can be purchased by general consumers at retail stores. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Manufacturers may not market professional use products in ‘consumer’ stores including grocery, hardware, and club stores” (“Restrictions...”). However, for those with a permit, generally exterminators or professionals, many rodenticides can be acquired and then subsequently used in homes anyways.
Once a rodenticide is used, there are some risks it can pose to its surroundings. Many pets are attracted to the scent of rodenticides and often eat them, resulting in what is known as primary poisoning. Whenever an animal eats poisoned prey which often occurs when a rodent is eaten by a predator. It is known as secondary poisoning, also known as relay toxicosis. A predator or scavenger is often affected by rodenticides because eating a poisoned or dead rodent with lingering poison in the carcass can often damage or kill the consumer.
Most animals that are exposed to rodenticide will show symptoms that include uncontrollable bleeding, weakness, trouble breathing, lethargic behavior and sometimes death (“Rodenticides”). If they do survive, they become more susceptible to disease. Because poison travels up the food chain, 70 to 80 percent of wild animals will be affected by secondary poisoning from rodenticide. The affected animals can become lethargic, which can result in them being hit by oncoming traffic because they have slower reaction times to things like cars. According to an NBC article, “poisonings have been documented in at least 25 wild species in California, including the endangered San Joaquin kit foxes and northern spotted owls, mountain lions, hawks, minks, and coyotes” (Moore).
Since rodenticides were made to kill mammals, they can also harm and kill humans. Young children are the most commonly affected by poisons because they often think it is candy or food. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, "Each year up to 10,000 children are accidentally exposed to rat poison in their homes" (Moore). Luckily, children generally do not eat enough to result in dangerous symptoms. However, if humans do get exposed to enough anticoagulant products, it will result in the body being unable to clot blood by stopping the production of some enzymes in the liver. Vitamin K which clots blood is recycled by these enzymes in the liver. However, when an anticoagulant is used, it stops the body from creating these enzymes. Eventually, the body will be Vitamin K deficient. For humans, it will take about five days for the poison to take effect because of the stores of Vitamin K we have in our bodies. Once they run out, the affected human will experience sudden bleeding from their nose, skin and gums.
Do not despair because there are often treatments for both animals and humans that can counteract the effects of anticoagulants. Vitamin K treatments often help the organism back into good health, as well as sufficient hydration and warmth for the organism. Though steps are being taken to help reduce the effects rodenticides have on their surroundings, there is still much more that can be done to help reduce the impact they have on the environment. Using snap traps as opposed to rodenticide is just one way to help negate the negative consequences of rodenticides. If everyone turned to more environmentally safe options, rodenticide could cease to exist as a problem.
Work Cited
"Restrictions on Rodenticide Products." United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA, 15 Jan. 2015. Web. 1 June 2015. <http://www2.epa.gov%2Frodenticides%2Frestrictions-rodenticide-products>.
"Rodenticides." National Pesticide Information Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2015. < http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/rodenticides.html>.
"Statewide Ban on Rat Poison Approved to Protect Wildlife." NBC. N.p., 21 Mar. 2014. Web. <http://goo.gl/9wO2mQ>.
"Rodenticides." Beyond Pesticides. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2015s. <http://goo.gl/IXobRc>.
Rodenticide, more informally known as rat poison, is a tool used to kill rats, mice, and other rodent pests. They attract rodents through scented baits. However, due to the harmful effects it has on other animals and the environment, rodenticide has become a controversial topic. Rodenticides are detrimental to the environment that they are placed in, and often cause harm towards their respective ecosystems.
There are three primary types of rodenticides that exist in today’s market. The primary types are anticoagulants, or chemicals that prevent the clotting of blood, causing animals to bleed internally and die as a result. The rodenticides mostly used by consumers are first-generation anticoagulants. These rodenticides require multiple feedings in order to kill pests. The second type, primarily used by pest control professionals, are second-generation anticoagulants. These poisons require only one feeding to administer a lethal dose. However, it can take 5-7 days to kill the rodent, and the anticoagulants persist in rodent carcasses after death. Finally, some rodenticides are non-anticoagulants, which use other methods like damaging the organs or the nerves.
Many rodenticides are dangerous, and can even be “toxic when inhaled and when they come into contact with skin” (Rodenticides). As such, there are some key restrictions when using them. First, many second-generation rodenticides are illegal to be used by the public. Chemicals such as brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, and difethialone are all illegal to be used by general consumers because of the safety hazards they pose including their extreme toxicity to people, pets, and wildlife. Additionally, there are restrictions on where rodenticides may be used. For consumers, all rodenticides must be placed within 50 feet of a building, so as not to disrupt the surrounding environment. Pest control professionals, who generally have a better sense of where the rodenticide must be placed, can put the chemical within 100 feet of any building. Specifically, in California, no second-generation rodenticides can be purchased by general consumers at retail stores. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Manufacturers may not market professional use products in ‘consumer’ stores including grocery, hardware, and club stores” (“Restrictions...”). However, for those with a permit, generally exterminators or professionals, many rodenticides can be acquired and then subsequently used in homes anyways.
Once a rodenticide is used, there are some risks it can pose to its surroundings. Many pets are attracted to the scent of rodenticides and often eat them, resulting in what is known as primary poisoning. Whenever an animal eats poisoned prey which often occurs when a rodent is eaten by a predator. It is known as secondary poisoning, also known as relay toxicosis. A predator or scavenger is often affected by rodenticides because eating a poisoned or dead rodent with lingering poison in the carcass can often damage or kill the consumer.
Most animals that are exposed to rodenticide will show symptoms that include uncontrollable bleeding, weakness, trouble breathing, lethargic behavior and sometimes death (“Rodenticides”). If they do survive, they become more susceptible to disease. Because poison travels up the food chain, 70 to 80 percent of wild animals will be affected by secondary poisoning from rodenticide. The affected animals can become lethargic, which can result in them being hit by oncoming traffic because they have slower reaction times to things like cars. According to an NBC article, “poisonings have been documented in at least 25 wild species in California, including the endangered San Joaquin kit foxes and northern spotted owls, mountain lions, hawks, minks, and coyotes” (Moore).
Since rodenticides were made to kill mammals, they can also harm and kill humans. Young children are the most commonly affected by poisons because they often think it is candy or food. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, "Each year up to 10,000 children are accidentally exposed to rat poison in their homes" (Moore). Luckily, children generally do not eat enough to result in dangerous symptoms. However, if humans do get exposed to enough anticoagulant products, it will result in the body being unable to clot blood by stopping the production of some enzymes in the liver. Vitamin K which clots blood is recycled by these enzymes in the liver. However, when an anticoagulant is used, it stops the body from creating these enzymes. Eventually, the body will be Vitamin K deficient. For humans, it will take about five days for the poison to take effect because of the stores of Vitamin K we have in our bodies. Once they run out, the affected human will experience sudden bleeding from their nose, skin and gums.
Do not despair because there are often treatments for both animals and humans that can counteract the effects of anticoagulants. Vitamin K treatments often help the organism back into good health, as well as sufficient hydration and warmth for the organism. Though steps are being taken to help reduce the effects rodenticides have on their surroundings, there is still much more that can be done to help reduce the impact they have on the environment. Using snap traps as opposed to rodenticide is just one way to help negate the negative consequences of rodenticides. If everyone turned to more environmentally safe options, rodenticide could cease to exist as a problem.
Work Cited
"Restrictions on Rodenticide Products." United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA, 15 Jan. 2015. Web. 1 June 2015. <http://www2.epa.gov%2Frodenticides%2Frestrictions-rodenticide-products>.
"Rodenticides." National Pesticide Information Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2015. < http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/rodenticides.html>.
"Statewide Ban on Rat Poison Approved to Protect Wildlife." NBC. N.p., 21 Mar. 2014. Web. <http://goo.gl/9wO2mQ>.
"Rodenticides." Beyond Pesticides. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2015s. <http://goo.gl/IXobRc>.