Study: Insecticide decimates tadpoles

[Judi Lynn]

Study: Insecticide decimates tadpoles

Published: Oct. 6, 2008 at 4:02

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- A U.S. study suggests the common insecticide malathion can decimate tadpole populations, killing them indirectly at doses too small to kill them directly.

University of Pittsburgh researchers wanted to determine the environmental impact of the use of malathion -- the most popular insecticide in the United States.

The scientists discovered gradual amounts of malathion that were too small to directly kill developing leopard frog tadpoles instead sparked a biological chain of events that deprived them of their primary food source -- bottom dwelling algae, or periphyton, which tadpoles eat.

~snip~
The results of the National Science Foundation-funded research builds on a nine-year effort by Associate Professor Rick Relyea to determine whether there is a link between pesticides and the global decline in amphibians. Relyea said amphibians are considered an environmental indicator species because of their sensitivity to pollutants and their deaths might foreshadow the poisoning of other, less environmentally sensitive species -- including humans.

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2008/10/06/Study_Insecticide_decimates_tadpoles/UPI-50581223323360/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. That's nasty shit. I heard that's also linked to induced Parkinson's.

[zeaper]

2. It’s the major replacement for DDT

Yes, it is nasty and its use has sky rocked since we banned DDT.

Goes to show for every action there are unintended results.