There’s a weedkiller used in Australia that’s so toxic, one sip could kill you. It’s called paraquat and debate is brewing over whether it should be banned.
Paraquat is already outlawed in many places around the world. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has been reviewing paraquat’s use here for more than two decades, and its final decision is due later this year.
We are medical and environmental scientists, and have researched the harmful effects of paraquat, even when it’s used within the recommended safety range. We strongly believe the highly toxic chemical should be banned in Australia.
Last modified on Thu 13 May 2021 04.56 EDT
Leading rodent experts say they âarenât convincedâ a new poison spruiked by the New South Wales government as ânapalmâ for mice will significantly impact the stateâs plague, and warn it comes at a vastly higher risk of killing native and domestic animals.
Rodents are still running rampant across large tracts of inland NSW and southern Queensland, costing some farmers more than $100,000 in destroyed crops and damage to stored hay and grain. Cases of leptospirosis â a potentially deadly disease that can transfer from mice to humans â have almost doubled in Queensland this year, with health authorities citing the increased rodent numbers as a possible cause.
Leading rodent experts say they “aren’t convinced” a new poison spruiked by the New South Wales government as “napalm” for mice will significantly impact the state’s plague, and warn it comes at a vastly higher risk of killing native and domestic animals. Rodents are still running rampant across large tracts of inland NSW and southern Queensland, costing some farmers more than $100,000 in destroyed crops and damage to stored hay and grain. Cases.
Australian mouse plague: ‘napalming’ rodents could kill native and domestic animals too Matilda Boseley
Leading rodent experts say they “aren’t convinced” a new poison spruiked by the New South Wales government as “napalm” for mice will significantly impact the state’s plague, and warn it comes at a vastly higher risk of killing native and domestic animals.
Rodents are still running rampant across large tracts of inland NSW and southern Queensland, costing some farmers more than $100,000 in destroyed crops and damage to stored hay and grain. Cases of leptospirosis – a potentially deadly disease that can transfer from mice to humans – have almost doubled in Queensland this year, with health authorities citing the increased rodent numbers as a possible cause.
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Research prompts increase to recommended mouse bait rates A new research investment by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), led by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has enabled increases to zinc phosphide (ZnP) mouse baits that will help grain growers battling above-average mouse numbers. Photo CSIRO
A new research investment by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), led by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has enabled evidence-based increases to zinc phosphide (ZnP) mouse baits that will help grain growers battling above-average mouse numbers in eastern Australia.
ZnP-coated wheat bait is the only registered in-crop rodenticide for the management of mice damage in broad-scale agriculture in Australia. The new Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Authority (APVMA) emergency use permit increases the concentration of zinc phosphide active per wheat grain from 25 mg/kilogram to 50 mg/kg.