Summary
The Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme ( WIIS) operated in Scotland by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture ( SASA) Chemistry Branch investigates suspected poisoning of wildlife, beneficial insects, companion animals and livestock if there is evidence to indicate that pesticides or biocides 1 may be involved.
The scheme, together with similar schemes operating in England & Wales and Northern Ireland, provides a means of post-registration surveillance of pesticide use throughout the UK, so that registration may be revised if necessary. These schemes also provide a measure of the success of the pesticide registration process and help in the verification and improvement of the risk assessments made in the registration of compounds. Incidents of approved use and of misuse can highlight problems with the approval conditions or the label instructions for a pesticide, and can provide valuable feedback into the regulatory process.
The scheme in Scotland also provides evidence that can be used by the Scottish Government or the police, to enforce legislation relating to the safe use of pesticides and the protection of food, the environment and animals.
In 2008, 179 incidents were referred to the WIIS Scotland. Four incidents were excluded 2, leaving 175 incidents accepted for further investigation. The cause of death or illness was determined in 77 incidents (i.e. 44% of all incidents accepted into the WIIS Scotland) and unknown in 98 incidents (which includes 6 honeybee incidents). 65 incidents (38% of all incidents accepted into the WIIS Scotland) tested positive for pesticide residues.
Thirty one incidents where the cause of death or illness was determined were found to involve pesticides. Twenty three incidents were categorised as abuse, 7 incidents were attributed to unspecified use and 1 to approved use.
Seventeen different pesticides were identified. The insecticide, carbofuran was again the most common pesticide detected even though UK approval for use of products containing this chemical expired in 2001. Fourteen abuse incidents involved carbofuran.
Selected samples were also screened for evidence of exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides. Residues of various anticoagulant rodenticides were detected in 45 out of 114 incidents (i.e. 39% of those incidents selected for rodenticide screening). The second generation anticoagulant rodenticides, bromadiolone and difenacoum, were found to be the most prevalent active ingredients.