Diazinon is Eco-Toxic | Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of NZ Inc

An earlier posting raised the question of the toxicity of diazinon recalling that In May 2012 dead mallard ducks were found on a Landcorp farm at Cape Foulwind, West Coast, after 1500 hectares were sprayed with diazinon.Its use is widespread as an insecticide often in the form called Dew600. This is around 60% diazanon, a potent organo – phosphate.

Dew600 had been aerially spread by government-owned Landcorp over their West Coast farms, to combat grubs of manuka beetle. Following its use, dead waterfowl were reported and had been found in years previous to 2012. A duck autopsied by Massey University, after the 2012 duck kill revealed an “acute death” and diazinon was implicated.

The question was posed on how toxic was diazinon to the environment, wildlife and the freshwater ecosystem.

A member of the public has sent Orion Agri-Science’s safety data sheet on “Zagro Diazinon 600EW”.

The sheet said as follows:-

“Toxic, Ecotoxic, Keep Out of Reach of Children”
Secondary Identifiers:
May be harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin
May cause reproductive/development damage from repeated ingestion May cause neurological symptoms from repeated ingestion at high doses.

Very toxic to aquatic organisms
Harmful to soil organisms
Very toxic to terrestrial vertebrates
Very toxic to terrestrial invertebrates”

For wide dispersive use, written notification must be given to any persons likely to be affected – this includes occupiers and owners immediately neighbouring the application area. Notification must be made 2 days – 4 weeks ahead of the application. Notification must include the location of the application area; the proposed date and approximate duration of the application; the steps to be taken by those notified to avoid exposure (e.g., staying indoors, closing windows and doors, moving washing indoors, disconnecting roof water supply, etc.); and the notifiers details (including name and phone number for immediate contact during application).

ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, LIQUID, N.O.S. (DIAZINON 60%)

Is it a matter Fish and Game should be concerned about? Dead ducks and “very toxic to aquatic organisms.”

©Diazinon is widely used and the safety data sheet says it is “very toxic to aquatic organisms” and no doubt other river bed wildlife