The fate of fenitrothion in a stream environment and its effect on the fauna, following aerial spraying of a Scottish forest.
In order to control an infestation of Pine Beauty moth (Panolis flammea Schiff.) fenitrothion was applied at a rate of 300 g ha-1 to a forest plantation consisting primarily of Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta Loud.) and Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis Carriere) using the ultra-low volume spraying technique. The concentration of fenitrothion in the forest stream rose to a maximum of 18 micrograms l-1 within the treated area an hour after spraying, but fell to 0.5 microgram l-1 after 24 hs. There was no evidence that the resident fish population was disturbed by the treatment and no short term effects were noticeable in caged fish. The concentration--time profile in the fish followed closely the profile in the water, and in each of the four fish tissues studied fell to 0.02 mg kg-1 after 24 hs. Invertebrate drift increased markedly 12--16 hs after spraying, but decreased to around pre-treatment levels within 48 hs. Caged insects remained alive during the five-day post-spray observation period, suggesting that drifting insects were displaced rather than killed by the insecticide. Concentration of fenitrothion in Willow Moss (Fontinalis antipyretica) fell from 0.139 mg kg-1 to 0.003 mg kg-1 (wet weight) after 48 hs. Fenitrothion was not detected in sediment but this was possibly due to the low surface area/weight ratio of the particles.
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D005278:Fenitrothion / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis; D007313:Insecta / Q000378:metabolism; D012474:Salmon / Q000378:metabolism; D012606:Scotland; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014337:Trout / Q000378:metabolism; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012987:Soil; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D005278:Fenitrothion