Kitulagodage M, Astheimer L B, Buttemer W A
Institute for Conservation Biology, University of Wollongong, Australia.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2008 Oct;71(2):597-600. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2007.11.001. Epub 2007 Dec 21.
Fipronil, a phenyl pyrazole pesticide, is aerially applied in eastern Australia to control locust outbreaks, usually as "Adonis 3UL Insecticide" (BASF), an ultra low (UL) volume formulation containing 0.3% active pesticide. We tested the toxicities of technical-grade fipronil, the Adonis 3UL formulation and its components in zebra finch, a native bird at risk of exposure in locust control regions. We estimated oral-dose LD50 by the Up-and-Down method. Under laboratory conditions, we identified unexpectedly high toxicities due exclusively to diacetone alcohol (DAA), a solvent making up 12.5% of the Adonis 3UL formulation. In contrast, finches were asymptomatic when exposed to 0.3% technical grade fipronil dissolved in a minimum amount of acetone. Depending upon the behaviour and persistence of DAA under field conditions, this formulation of Adonis 3UL may pose a far greater threat to the health of small birds and possibly other vertebrates than expected for fipronil alone.
氟虫腈是一种苯基吡唑类杀虫剂，在澳大利亚东部通过飞机喷洒来控制蝗虫爆发，通常使用的是“阿多尼斯3UL杀虫剂”（巴斯夫公司生产），这是一种超低容量制剂，含有0.3%的活性农药。我们测试了工业级氟虫腈、阿多尼斯3UL制剂及其成分对斑胸草雀的毒性，斑胸草雀是一种原产于蝗虫防治区域且有接触风险的鸟类。我们采用上下法估算经口剂量的半数致死量（LD50）。在实验室条件下，我们意外地发现，仅占阿多尼斯3UL制剂12.5%的溶剂双丙酮醇（DAA）具有极高的毒性。相比之下，当斑胸草雀接触溶解在最少量丙酮中的0.3%工业级氟虫腈时并无症状。根据双丙酮醇在野外条件下的行为和持久性，阿多尼斯3UL的这种制剂可能对小鸟以及其他脊椎动物的健康构成比仅考虑氟虫腈时更大的威胁。
