Is Fipronil toxic to birds?
Two fipronil metabolites were also tested in freshwater fish and invertebrates and were more toxic than fipronil. In other studies, fipronil was found to be highly toxic to some birds, but practically non-toxic to ducks. Fipronil was also found to be highly toxic to honey bees, but not toxic to earthworms.
Why is Fipronil banned in the US?
It is notable that these bans do not stem primarily from concern over the pesticide’s effect on humans; rather, the bans are in place due to studies showing Fipronil’s adverse—and often unintended—impact on a variety of animals. Firponil is highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates, bees, and certain bird species.
What is Fipronil used for in poultry?
It is used 'off-label' as a topical spray to treat flea, tick, lice, and certain species of mite infestations in pet poultry. Fipronil works by blocking the glutamate-gated GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) chloride channels in nerve cells, resulting in overexcited nervous systems of the parasites, killing them quickly.
How effective is the insecticide Fipronil?
Fipronil is a highly effective, broad-spectrum insecticide with potential value for the control of a wide range of crop, public hygiene, amenity, and veterinary pests. It can generally be applied at low to very low dose rates to achieve effective pest control. Application rates vary between 0.6 and …
How long does a fipronil last?
Fipronil degrades slowly on vegetation and relatively slowly in soil and in water, with a half-life ranging between 36 hr and 7.3 mon depending on substrate and conditions. It is relatively immobile in soil and has low potential to leach into groundwater.
How effective is fipronil?
Fipronil is a highly effective, broad-spectrum insecticide with potential value for the control of a wide range of crop, public hygiene, amenity, and veterinary pests. It can generally be applied at low to very low dose rates to achieve effective pest control. Application rates vary between 0.6 and 200 g a.i./ha, ...
Is fipronil safe for humans?
However, as fipronil is a relatively new insecticide that has not been in use for long enough to evaluate the risk it may pose to human health, from data on human exposure to the product, a precautionary approach may be warranted.
Is fipronil a broad spectrum insecticide?
Fipronil is a highly effective, broad-spectrum insecticide with potential value for the control of a wide range of crop, public hygiene, amenity, and veterinary pests. It can generally be applied at low to very low dose rates to achieve effective pest control. Application rates vary between 0.6 and ….
Is fipronil toxic to fish?
One of its main degradation products, fipronil desulfinyl, is generally more toxic than the parent compound and is very persistent. There is evidence that fipronil and some of its degradates may bioaccumulate, particularly in fish.
Is fipronil carcinogenic to mice?
There are indications of carcinogenic action in rats at 300 ppm, but it is not carcinogenic to female mice at doses of 30 ppm. The acute toxicity of fipronil varies widely even in animals within the same taxonomic groups.
What is the effect of fipronil on bees?
Fipronil is one of the main chemical causes blamed for the spread of colony collapse disorder among bees. It has been found by the Minutes-Association for Technical Coordination Fund in France that even at very low nonlethal doses for bees, the pesticide still impairs their ability to locate their hive, resulting in large numbers of forager bees lost with every pollen-finding expedition. A synergistic toxic effect of fipronil with the fungal pathogen Nosema ceranae was recently reported. The functional basis for this toxic effect is now understood: the synergy between fipronil and the pathogenic fungus induces changes in male physiology leading to infertility. A 2013 report by the European Food Safety Authority identified fipronil as "a high acute risk to honeybees when used as a seed treatment for maize and on July 16, 2013 the EU voted to ban the use of fipronil on corn and sunflowers within the EU. The ban took effect at the end of 2013."
What is the chemical family of fipronil?
Chemical compound. Fipronil is a broad-spectrum insecticide that belongs to the phenylpyrazole chemical family. Fipronil disrupts the insect central nervous system by blocking GABA -gated chloride channels and glutamate-gated chloride (GluCl) channels. This causes hyperexcitation of contaminated insects' nerves and muscles.
How many eggs contain fipronil?
Chicken eggs were found to contain Fipronil and distributed to 15 European Union countries, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. Approximately 700,000 eggs are thought to have reached shelves in the UK alone. Eggs at 44 farms in Taiwan were also found with excessive Fipronil levels.
What is the active ingredient in Frontline Topspot?
Fipronil is the main active ingredient of Frontline TopSpot, Fiproguard, Flevox, and PetArmor (used along with S-methoprene in the 'Plus' versions of these products) in the USA and Frontline Tri-Act for Dogs, Plus (Dog), Plus (Cat), Spot-On (Dog) and Spot-On (Cat) in the UK; these treatments are used in fighting tick and flea infestations in dogs and cats.
How much does fipronil affect daphnids?
An invertebrate lifecycle daphnia study showed that fipronil affects length in daphnids at concentrations greater than 9.8 ppb.
Why are there mass bee deaths in France?
In May 2003, the French Directorate-General of Food at the Ministry of Agriculture determined that a case of mass bee mortality observed in southern France was related to acute fipronil toxicity. Toxicity was linked to defective seed treatment, which generated dust.
How is fipronil quantitated?
Fipronil may be quantitated in plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to confirm a diagnosis of poisoning in hospitalised patients or to provide evidence in a medicolegal death investigation.
What is a termite barrier made of?
One such product for subterranean termites is a physical barrier made of marine-grade stainless steel woven wire mesh that blocks the openings in the foundation of a building in the same way window screens block flying insects from entering a building.
What is Termidor aka Fipronil?
What should consumers know about Termidor aka fipronil. Many of us come into contact with harmful chemicals on a daily basis without even realizing it. One of those chemicals is a pesticide called Firponil. According to the National Pesticide Information Center at Oregon State University, Fipronil is an insecticide used to control many common ...
What is a fipronil?
According to the National Pesticide Information Center at Oregon State University, Fipronil is an insecticide used to control many common insect pests including ants, termites, beetles, cockroaches, fleas, and ticks, among other insects.
How does fipronil work?
It comes in a variety of forms, one of the most common being labeled as Terminol, and works by disrupting the normal function of the central nervous system in insects. Humans can be exposed to Fipronil through contact with the skin or eyes, inhalation, or ingestion.
Is fipronil bad for fishing?
In many of the places where Fipronil has been banned, significant negative effects on agricultural or fishing activities have been documented. These bans, and the documented adverse affects of Fipronil, remind us of the importance to pay close attention to what is in the products that we might use every day without a second thought.
Is fipronil a carcinogen?
Generally, treatment is not required. In the United States, Fipronil is classified as a possible human carcinogen.
Is fipronil an insecticide?
Despite the fact that official information seems to indicate Fipronil is an insecticide that does not present serious concerns, a history of its use paints a different picture. For example, Fipronil has been banned by several countries around the world, including Italy, France, and China.
How to Use Frontline on Chickens?
Whether taken orally or applied topically, the chicken’s body absorbs a certain degree of Fipronil in the fatty tissues. After some time, the body breaks down the active ingredient straight into the bloodstream.
Is Frontline Safe for Chickens?
Rarely would reliable animal experts use Frontline on chickens for pest control. As mentioned above, Frontline can cause a whole load of ugly reactions on fowls, mainly when used for long periods.
Can You Spray Chickens with Permethrin?
Permethrin is one of the most preferred treatments for scabies and lice in humans. Unknown to most people, a 10% spray of Permethrin is equally effective in eradicating lice in chicken coops. The brighter side is that it has low toxicity compared to other chemical pesticides.
What Happens When Frontline is Applied?
When Frontline is applied to the skin or taken orally, it is absorbed to some degree in the body , whether it be avian or mammals. Fipronil is absorbed in mostly in fatty tissues. Over time it is broken down into the blood stream. Studies have shown that significant amounts of finopril remains in the body’s tissues, especially in fat and fatty tissues. Scientists believe that the long half-life reflects the slow release of finopril residues (aka metabolites) and believe that there is a potential for bioaccumulation (build-up) of the metabolites of fipronil in the body over time. Experts believe that a single dose of fipronil can remain in a chicken’s body for up to 8 weeks.
Why do Half Lives Matter?
In medicine, one of the most important questions we ask ourselves will all chemicals and medications is what is the half-life? A half-life tells us how long it takes for our bodies to get rid of half of the dose given. For example, if the half life of a medication is 2 hours and you first took 10 mg, that means that in 2 hours from the time you took the medication, 5 mg will be left in your system, and 2 hours after that 2.5 mg will be in your system and so on until there is none left as long as you do not take another dose. We use this as a guide to help determine the dosing and how often medications should be taken to be safe. Some medications or chemicals have half-lives of a few hours while others can take days or even months. Depending on the dose, we know that fipronil has a first half life that can last up to 8 days. That is a long time. This means that to clear the body, once it is given it will probably take a couple of months for fipronil to be out of a system after the initial application.
What is LD50?
LD50 is available for all chemicals. Scientists determine at what dose does a certain chemical kill 50% of the subjects tested. It is always given in a mg/kg value.
How long does it take for fipronil to clear your system?
Depending on the dose, we know that fipronil has a first half life that can last up to 8 days. That is a long time. This means that to clear the body, once it is given it will probably take a couple of months for fipronil to be out of a system after the initial application.
What is the name of the chemical used to treat chickens?
Frontline is the brand name. The active ingredient or generic name of the chemical you are applying to your chickens is called Fipronil. Fipronil is sold under many brand names around the world. Fipronil is in a family of chemicals called phenylpyrozoles and is considered by the USDA to be a Class C chemical meaning that it could potentially cause cancer. It has been linked to thyroid tumors in rats. Fipronil works by targeting the central nervous system in insects.
How much fipronil is in a 67cc tube?
Approximately 98 mg is in 1 cc for the 9.8% concentration of fipronil. So for the dose .67cc tube is a little less than 67 mg. Some chicken sites that recommend using the Frontline is at a concentration of 0.25cc (25 mg) for bantams and 0.40cc (40 mg) for standard sized chickens.
How long does fipronil stay in chicken fat?
In one study, they discovered that chickens tend to store the fipronil in the peritoneal fat for up to 8 months! This is why the USDA has limits as to how much can be detected in the poultry products that feed the world.
Use
Prevention
- Always follow label instructions and take steps to avoid exposure. If any exposures occur, be sure to follow the First Aid instructions on the product label carefully. For additional treatment advice, contact the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. If you wish to discuss a pesticide problem, please call 1-800-858-7378.
Toxicity
- Fipronil kills insects when they eat it or come in contact with it. Fipronil works by disrupting the normal function of the central nervous system in insects. Fipronil is more toxic to insects than people and pets because it is more likely to bind to insect nerve endings. Tests were done to find out if fipronil is toxic to fish and creatures in the water without backbones (invertebrates), such …
Causes
- People can be exposed to chemicals in four ways: contacting their skin, contacting their eyes, breathing them in, or eating them. Direct contact to the skin or eyes may occur while applying fipronil products. Pets may be exposed to fipronil by products that are applied to their skin for flea and tick treatments. People may also be exposed to fipronil when applying flea and tick product…
Safety
- Health effects from a brief exposure to fipronil depend on how someone is exposed to the chemical. Direct, short-term contact with skin can result in slight skin irritation. When individuals have eaten fipronil, reported health effects included sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, stomach pain, dizziness, weakness, and seizures. Signs and symptoms from a brief exposure to …
Pathophysiology
- Once in the body, fipronil is found mainly in the fatty tissue, and breaks down into smaller chemicals called metabolites. Fipronil and its metabolites are then removed from the body mostly through the feces and also in the urine.
Research
- Scientists have not found any evidence of fipronil causing cancer in humans. Researchers fed fipronil to rats in their diet for nearly two years to find out if fipronil can cause cancer. Researchers found thyroid tumors in both male and female rats fed the highest dose. While these findings are considered to apply only to rats, fipronil is classified as a \"possible human carcinogen\" by the …
Formation
- In the soil, naturally occurring organisms break down fipronil into smaller chemicals, and on the soil surface, fipronil is broken down by sunlight. Fipronil breaks down in the soil so that half of the original amount is gone in about 125 days. This break down time is called the \"half-life\" of the pesticide. Fipronil sticks tightly to soil and does not mix very well with water. Therefore, it does n…