Slug poison found in one in eight of England's drinking water sources

Slug pesticide used in gardens and agriculture linked to high concentrations of toxic chemical in rivers and reservoirsSlug poison was found in one in eight of England's rivers and reservoirs used for drinking water, according to the most recent comprehensive survey of the chemical.The Environment Agency (EA) told the Guardian that between 2009 and 2011 concentrations of metaldehyde, used by farmers to protect their crops from slugs, were found in 81 of England and Wales' 647 reservoirs, rivers and groundwater from which drinking water is sourced. The chemical is almost impossible to remove from drinking water using standard treatments.But the agency said the levels of metaldehyde were not a human or environmental health concern.Levels spiked in late 2011 and persisted into 2012 due to wet weather creating runoff and ideal slug breeding conditions. In November, levels 100 times higher than EU regulations were detected at a water treatment intake on the River Stour in Essex. Pesticide industry representative Paul Fogg said pellet use during summer and autumn of 2011 was at the highest level ever.Pond Conservation director Jeremy Biggs said current methods for limiting runoff were ineffective, although he added that he held few concerns about human or environmental health."Runoff of metaldehyde is proving difficult to control. At the moment there isn't a technique for stopping the runoff other than not using it," said Biggs. "You'd need to drink 1,000 litres of water every day ...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Farming News guardian.co.uk UK news Pesticides Gardens Environment Agriculture Source Type: news