Nontarget effects of ivermectin residues on earthworms and springtails dwelling beneath dung of treated cattle in four countries
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: The authorization of veterinary medicinal products requires that they be assessed for nontarget effects in the environment. Numerous field studies have assessed these effects on dung organisms. However, few studies have examined effects on soil-dwelling organisms, which might be exposed to veterinary medicinal product residues released during dung degradation. The authors compared the abundance of earthworms and springtails in soil beneath dung from untreated cattle and from cattle treated 0 d, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d, and 28 d previously with ivermectin. Study sites were located in different ecoregions in Switzerland (Continental), The Netherlands (Atlantic), France (Mediterranean), and Canada (Northern Mixed Grassland). Samples were collected using standard methods from 1 mo to 12 mo after pat deposition. Ivermectin concentrations in soil beneath dung pats ranged from 0.02 mg/kg dry weight (3 mo) to typically <0.006 mg/kg dry weight (5-7 mo). Earthworms were abundant and species-rich at the Swiss and Dutch sites, less common with fewer species at the French site, and essentially absent at the Canadian site. Diverse but highly variable communities of springtails were present at all sites. Overall, results showed little effect of residues on either earthworms or springtails. The authors recommend that inclusion of soil organisms in field studies to assess the nontarget effects of veterinary medicinal products be required only if earthworms or springtails exhibit sensitivity to the product in laboratory tests. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1959-1969. © 2015 SETAC.
DOI: 10.1002/etc.3306
Institutions: ECT Oekotoxikologie (Germany), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, University of Zurich, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Wageningen University & Research, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Université de Montpellier, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier, Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
Language: English
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2178129723