In this study we have analyzed of 1,157 suspected cases of poisoning of wild and domestic animals in the natural environment (1,800 animals and 340 baits) from different Spanish regions during the period 2004-2010. We detected 41.2% of positive cases (40.8% of animals and 52.6% of baits). In domestic carnivores, detection of toxic reached 71.4%, indicating its usefulness as sentinels of the use of poison in the environment. In those animals positive for toxicological analysis, 78.3% have been considered as intentional poisonings. The diurnal raptors were most affected by poisoning (43.6% of positives), followed by carnivorous mammals (27.1%). The most frequently detected toxicants were anticholinesterase insecticides (baits/animals: 80.4%/65.8%), followed by anticoagulant rodenticides (5%/19.6%), strychnine (2.2%/6.5%) and arsenic (4.5%/2.3%). The differences observed between regions underlines the dominance in the use of strychnine in Asturias, anticoagulant rodenticides in Castilla y Leon, organophosphate insecticides in Aragon, carbamate insecticides in Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid, and the emergence of other poisons, such as ?-chloralose or barbiturates, in Catalonia. In summary, 82.3% of intentional poisonings were due to anticholinesterase pesticides and 85.5% of accidental anticoagulant rodenticides. Future regulations of pesticides and biocides should take into account the risk of illegal use in the preparation of poisoned baits which involves the marketing of formulations with high richness of active ingredients with low LD50.

Resumen del trabajo presentado al 23rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, celebrado en Glasgow (Escocia) del 12 al 16 de mayo de 2013.

Peer Reviewed