1080 is highly soluble in water and dilutes quickly[1]
- Laboratory analysis can detect 1080 in water at concentrations as low as 0.1 parts per billion (ppb)[2]
- Research by NIWA showed that 1080 deliberately placed in small streams for testing was undetectable after only 8 hours[3]
The maximum amount of 1080 residue allowed in drinking water by the Ministry of Health’s is 2.0 ppb. This has never been breached.[4]
As an indication of how stringent this regulation is, at the 2.0ppb level a 60 kg person would need to drink: 60,000 litres of water for a lethal dose of 1080.
Water is routinely monitored after aerial application of 1080 in New Zealand and water samples are collected immediately after application when there is the highest possibility of detecting contamination.[5]
Of 2442 water samples tested by Landcare Research between 1990 and May 2010
- 96.5% had no detectable 1080
- Of all the samples taken over 20 years only 6 were equal to, or above the Ministry of Health level for drinking water and none of these came from drinking water supplies.[6]
Of 592 samples taken from human or stock drinking supplies, only four contained detectable 1080 residues at 0.1ppb (1 sample) and 0.2 ppb (3 samples) - all well below the Ministry of Health level of 2 ppb.[7]
Trials show that any aquatic and land plants that uptake 1080 rapidly metabolised it within a week.[8]
Trials in four West Coast streams using 10 times the number of 1080 baits that would be expected to enter streams during aerial treatment showed no detectable effect on aquatic life in streams.[9]
In separate studies in the United States and New Zealand 100% of fish fed 1080 baits survived and showed no ill effects.[10]
A study in which meat from a possum that had died from 1080 poison was fed to eels found that all of the eels survived and none became ill.[11]
A NIWA study found that koura (native fresh water crayfish) that ate 1080 baits did not die and showed no ill effects.
- The same study revealed that an 85kg person would need to consume the tail meat of about 2800 koura in a single sitting to have a 50% chance of receiving a lethal dose.[12]
[1]Atzert, S. P. (1971). A review of sodium monofluoroacetate (compound 1080) : its properties, toxicology, and use in predator and rodent control. Washington,DC, United States Department of the Interior. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. 34 p
[2] http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/services/laboratories/toxlab/lab_tests.asp
[3]Suren, A. and P. Lambert (2006). "Do toxic baits containing sodium fluroacetate (1080) affect fish and invertebrate communities when they fall into streams?" New Zealand Journal of marine and freshwater research 40(4): 531-546.
[4]Ministry of Health (2000). Drinking water standards for New Zealand 2000. http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/238fd5fb4fd051844c256669006aed57/70727db605b9f56a4c25696400802887/$FILE/drinking%20water.pdf
[5]Eason, C. Temple W. (2008) Water sampling for sodium fluoroacetate (1080) - how much is enough?. The NZWWA Journal 32(36).
[6]unpublished data, Landcare Research
[7]unpublished data, Landcare Research
[8]Eason C, Twigg L, & TempleW. (2007) Consequences of slow 1080 breakdown in water in cold conditions, p6.
[9]Suren, A. and P. Lambert (2006). "Do toxic baits containing sodium fluroacetate (1080) affect fish and invertebrate communities when they fall into streams?" New Zealand Journal of marine and freshwater research 40(4): 531-546.
[10](USAstudy) King, J. E.; Penfound, W. T. (1946) Effects of new herbicides on fish. Science 103, 487.
(NZ study) Batcheler, C. L. (1978) Compound 1080, its properties, effectiveness, dangers, and use. (New ZealandForestService: Wellington). p.14-17.
[11]Lyver, P. O. B., J. Ataria, K. Trought, and P. Fisher. 2005. Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) residues in long-fin eels Anguilladieffenbachii , following exposure to contaminated water and food. New Zealandjournal of marine and freshwater research 39:1234-1252.
[12]Suren, A and Bonnett, M (2006), “Consumption of baits containing sodium fluoroactetate (1080) by the NZ freshwater crayfish”. New Zealand Journal of marine and freshwater research 40, 169-178.
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