{"id":2950,"date":"2019-08-29T00:07:58","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T07:07:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/pal-question-394\/"},"modified":"2023-08-09T09:36:51","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T16:36:51","slug":"on-the-use-of-iron-phosphate-based-slug-baits","status":"publish","type":"pal","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/on-the-use-of-iron-phosphate-based-slug-baits\/","title":{"rendered":"on the use of iron phosphate based slug baits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is there any scientific reason to not use the iron phosphate based slug baits (Sluggo etc.) near bodies of water (streams, ponds, lakes)? I did some preliminary (not exhaustive) Google research and did not find anything to suggest they cause increased algae growth. Please let me know what you can find on this subject. Are other<\/strong>
\nwater-borne organisms harmed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Material Safety Data Sheet for Sluggo indicates that one should avoid
\ndisposal of this product near bodies of water (see Section 13), though
\nthere is not definitive information in Section 12 on the ecological
\nimpacts of the product on algae and other life forms. Here is a link<\/a> to the PDF document.<\/p>\n

See also Grow Smart<\/a> from King County Hazardous Waste Management on dealing with slugs in gardens.<\/p>\n

It does not list Sluggo, Escar-go, or any of the other iron phosphate
\nproducts as water pollution hazards, but the MSDS sheet makes me think
\nthere is a potential problem with dumping large quantities. It seems not
\nenough information is out there, perhaps because the research has not
\nbeen done. Here is the page<\/a> from the Pesticide Action Network database, where you can see that iron phosphate’s eco-toxicity has not been
\nestablished.<\/p>\n

Here is what<\/a> the Environmental Protection Agency has to say about iron
\nphosphate slug baits:<\/p>\n

\n

Ecological Effects Hazard Assessment<\/p>\n

“A number of ecological effects toxicology data requirements were waived
\nbased on the known lack of toxicity of iron phosphate to birds, fish and
\nnon-target insects, its low solubility in water, conversion to less
\nsoluble form in the environment (soil), and its use pattern (soil
\napplication). An acute oral toxicity study in Bobwhite quail (NOEL & LD50
\ngreater than 2000 mg\/kg) indicated that iron phosphate was practically
\nnontoxic to avian species. Based on these factors, the data requirements
\nfor the toxicity studies in Mallard duck, rainbow trout, freshwater
\ninvertebrates, and non-target insect\/honeybees are waived. It is likely
\nthat there will be exposure to ground-feeding non-target insects and
\nearthworms. Submitted studies involving ground beetles, rove beetles and
\nearthworms demonstrated that the product will not affect these organisms
\nat up to two times the maximum application rate.<\/p>\n

Environmental Fate and Ground Water Data<\/p>\n

Exposure assessments on this type of product (biochemical pesticide) are
\nnot performed unless human health or ecological effects issues arise in
\nthe toxicity studies for either of these disciplines. Since no endpoints
\nof concern were identified, there is no requirement for environmental
\nfate data.<\/p>\n

Ecological Exposure and Risk Characterization<\/p>\n

Exposure to daphnids and other aquatic invertebrates would not occur
\nbased on current label use directions. Exposure to honeybees is also not
\nexpected to occur, due to the composition and particle size of the
\nend-use product and its use pattern (soil application). Non-target
\ninsects, such as ground beetles and earthworms, could encounter the
\nend-use product; however, in tests of rove beetles, ground beetles and
\nearthworms, no effects were observed at up to twice the maximum
\napplication rate. Thus, the acute risk to aquatic invertebrates,
\nnon-target insects, and earthworms is considered minimal to nonexistent.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

United Nations Environment Programme has information on the impact of Phosphorus on aquatic life, a process called eutrophication.<\/a> However, the iron phosphate in Sluggo and similar products binds with Phosphorus, which may mitigate the effects in water.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is there any scientific reason to not use the iron phosphate based slug baits (Sluggo etc.) near bodies of water (streams, ponds, lakes)? I did some preliminary (not exhaustive) Google research and did not find anything to suggest they cause increased algae growth. Please let me know what you can find on this subject. Are other water-borne organisms harmed?   The Material Safety Data Sheet for Sluggo indicates that one should avoid disposal of this product near bodies of water…<\/p>\n

Continue reading on the use of iron phosphate based slug baits<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","keyword":[513,91,105],"class_list":["post-2950","pal","type-pal","status-publish","hentry","keyword-pesticides-and-the-environment","keyword-slugs","keyword-snails"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pal\/2950"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pal"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/pal"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"keyword","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/keyword?post=2950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}