1080 use ‘justified’

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 4

1080 use ‘justified’

PA Wellington A Forestry Research Institute report asserts that the continued use of 1080 poison to control animals such as rabbits and opossums is justified and necessary. The report, written by Mr C. L. Batcheler, of the institute’s forestry protection division, was released by the Minister of Forests (Mr V. S. Young). The use of 1080 poison has drawn fire from conservationists because of its effect on endangered wildlife, especially birds.

An investigation by the Nature Conservation Council last year concluded that the poison was potentially harmful to the environment and called for research into its use.

The latest report concludes that present regulations are adequate to

protect human health. It says there are no likely hazards to human beings through contamination of streams or water supplies where 1080 is used for pest control.

“Even if all the poison is leached into a watershed by rain, or if an aircraft carrying bait were to crash into a stream, the dilution factors are so large that it would be impossible for a man or animal to ingest a lethal dose,” says the institute’s report.

Only one human fatality has been attributed to the poison in New Zealand. According to the report, the man had no legal access to the poison, was not employed on pest control, and “it has never been established whether the poison was self-admin-istered.”

The report says most animal deaths occur when stock are prematurely returned to pastures or when dogs are not kept under control and have access to poisoned carcases.

“Accidental bird deaths can be expected in all poisoning work, and 1080 is no exception,” the report comments.

The report recommends far greater control of the use of 1080 bait; more efficient machinery for bait production to reduce the danger of killing non-tar-get species; and greater research into toxicity of the poison and into possible alternatives. The Nature Conservation Council is due to meet Mr Young and departmental officials on June 29 to discuss the future of 1080 poison.