Secondary poisoning
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Secondary poisoning, or relay toxicity, is the poisoning that results when one
predator eats an animal, such as a mouse, rat, or insect, that has previously been poisoned by a commercial pesticide. If the level of toxicity
in the prey animal is sufficiently high, it will harm the predator.
Mammals susceptible to secondary poisoning include
birds.[not verified in body
]
Pesticides
Various pesticides such as
rodenticides may cause secondary poisoning.[1]
Some pesticides require multiple feedings spanning several days; this increases the time a target organism continues to move after ingestion, raising the risk of secondary poisoning of a predator.
Most of slow-acting poisons for pests have cumulative effects and so can cause secondary poisoning and environment pollution.
| Pesticide | Type | Classification | Target | Oral Toxicity | Feedings | Secondary Risk to Mammals | Secondary Risk to Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warfarin | Anticoagulant | Hydroxycoumarin | Rodenticide | Moderate | Multiple | Low | Minimal |
| Bromadiolone | Anticoagulant | Hydroxycoumarin | Rodenticide | High | Single | Moderate | Moderate |
| Difethialone | Anticoagulant | Hydroxycoumarin | Rodenticide | High | Single | Moderate | Highest |
| Brodifacoum | Anticoagulant | Hydroxycoumarin | Rodenticide | Highest | Single | Highest | Highest |
| Chlorophacinone | Anticoagulant | Indandione | Rodenticide | High | Multiple | Highest | Minimal |
Diphacinone
|
Anticoagulant | Indandione | Rodenticide | High | Multiple | Highest | Moderate |
| Bromethalin | CNS | other | Rodenticide | High | Single | Low | Low |
| Fluoroacetate | Metabolism | other | Rodenticide | Highest | Single | High | Highest |
| Zinc phosphide | other | other | Rodenticide | High | Single | Minimal | Low |