Monitoring rodenticide residues in wildlife.

Abstract

Rodenticide residues are measured in wildlife to gain information on the scale of exposure and to assess the likelihood of associated adverse effects. Such monitoring are needed because rodenticides are not target specific in their toxicity; wild vertebrates have the potential to be exposed to these compounds and to be potentially adversely affected by them. Exposure can be primary (rodenticide consumed directly), secondary (organism exposed by eating contaminated prey or other material) or a combination of the two. This chapter focuses largely on second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) as these are the compounds of greatest concern in terms of potential impacts on wildlife. The chapter aims to describe the evidence that exposure of wildlife to rodenticides does occur; discuss the patterns and magnitudes of residues in wildlife; report the main factors that drive exposure; examine whether exposure results in adverse effects in wildlife; and analyse the relationships between liver residues and effects in wildlife.