The exposure and toxicity of pesticides to amphibians

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Amphibians and pesticides
Exposure of amphibians to plant protection products may occur through direct absorption from
contaminated water bodies in the aquatic phase, or ingestion of contaminated food or water, contact
with sprayed surfaces or direct overspray in the terrestrial phase.
The aims of this project were to:
1. Provide information useful for risk assessment on a range of European species of amphibian
that might be at risk of exposure.
2. Collate data on the toxicity of pesticides to amphibians suitable for comparison with other
species such as fish, birds and mammals.
3. Identify other possible routes of exposure.
The findings for these are presented along with some recommendations about how they may be used
and additional research that would assist in exposure assessment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A literature survey was conducted by the Fera Information Centre using a list of search terms as
detailed in Appendix A. Databases searched were CAB Abstracts, AGRICOLA, AGRIS,
Environmental Sciences, MEDLINE(R), Enviroline(R), Pollution Abstracts, Biosis Previews(R),
ToxFile and Water Resources Abstracts. Further searches were made of the US EPA Ecotox database,
the Reptile and Amphibian Toxicity Literature database (RATL), and key publications and reviews
including Sparling et al. (2000, 2010), Wells (2007).
Original papers identified in the search were either obtained from Fera’s stock of 10,000 books and
monographs, and subscriptions to over 200 current journals. Where publications were not available inhouse,
these were obtained from inter-library loans or via the range of contacts and reciprocal
agreements that Fera has with other special libraries relevant to Fera’s areas of business. A literature
database was created in EndNote and submitted to EFSA.
In the first stage of the study, a review was performed to identify key information on the use of
agricultural (or similar) habitats by amphibians along with information useful for estimating exposure
to pesticides. The review considered state-of-the-knowledge through search of information from
scientific literature, study reports and other documents. Key publications included Ecotoxicology of
Amphibians and Reptiles 2 nd Edition (Sparling et al, 2010) and The Ecology and Behavior of
Amphibians (Wells 2007). Detailed information (e.g. dietary information and body weight data), for
representative (widespread and associated with agricultural environments) European species of frogs,
toads and newts were collated. In the second stage, toxicity data for amphibians was collated for both
aquatic and terrestrial phases where available. Any reports of studies identified as useful and not
available in existing databases (e.g. US EPA ECOTOX database) were evaluated to assess their
reliability.
1. Species at risk
Information found in the literature search and other sources identified was used to identify species at
risk and obtain available information on use of agricultural habitat.
Supporting publications 2012:EN-343 6
The present document has been produced and adopted by the bodies identified above as author(s). This task has been carried out exclusively
by the author(s) in the context of a contract between the European Food Safety Authority and the author(s), awarded following a tender
procedure. The present document is published complying with the transparency principle to which the Authority is subject. It may not be
considered as an output adopted by the Authority. The European food Safety Authority reserves its rights, view and position as regards the
issues addressed and the conclusions reached in the present document, without prejudice to the rights of the authors.