Second generation anticoagulant rodenticide residues in barn owls 2018

The current report is the fourth in a series of annual reports that describe the monitoring of second generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) liver residues in barn owls Tyto alba in Britain. This work is an element of an overarching monitoring programme undertaken to track the outcomes of stewardship activities associated with the use of anticoagulant rodenticides. The barn owl is used for exposure monitoring as it is considered a sentinel for species that are generalist predators of small mammals in rural areas. The specific work reported here is the measurement of liver SGAR residues in 100 barn owls that died in 2018 in locations across Britain. The residue data are compared with those from 395 barn owls that died between 2006 and 2012 (hereafter termed baseline years), prior to changes in anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) authorisations and onset of stewardship. As in the baseline years, the compounds detected most frequently in barn owls that died in 2018 were bromadiolone, difenacoum and brodifacoum. Overall, 87% of the owls had detectable liver residues of one or more SGAR. The metrics to be used for stewardship monitoring are reported below in terms of differences between owls that died in 2018 and in baseline years. Numbers of barn owls containing detectable residues of flocoumafen and difethialone. There was no significant difference in the proportion of barn owls with detectable liver residues of flocoumafen between the baseline years and 2018. There was a significantly higher proportion of barn owls with detectable liver residues of difethialone in 2018 compared to baseline years (8% vs 0.3% ). The ratio of birds with ”low” (100 ng/g wet wt.) concentrations for any single SGAR or for ∑SGARs. There was no significant difference between barn owls from baseline years and from 2018 for any individual compound or for summed SGARs (∑SGARs), although a decrease in the proportion of birds with “high” difenacoum residues approached significance. Average concentrations of brodifacoum, difenacoum, bromadiolone and ∑SGARs in the cohort of owls with “low” residues (100 ng/g ww). There was no significant difference between barn owls from baseline years and from 2018 in the concentrations of either “low” or “high” residues for bromadiolone, difenacoum (data tested statistically only for “low residues”), all residues summed (∑SGARs), or “high” brodifacoum residues. The median concentration of “low” brodifacoum residues was higher in birds from 2018 than in baseline years. Overall, there were few differences in liver SGAR accumulation between barn owls that died in baseline years and in 2018. The lack of significant reductions in SGAR residues in barn owls in 2018 suggests that full implementation of stewardship since 2016 has yet to result in a reduction in exposure of barn owls to SGARs

Nutrient fluxes from domestic wastewater: a national-scale historical perspective for the UK 1800–2010

Nutrient emissions in human waste and wastewater effluent fluxes from domestic sources are quantified for the UK over the period 1800-2010 based on population data from UK Census returns. The most important drivers of change have been the introduction of the water closet (flush toilet) along with population growth, urbanisation, connection to sewer, improvements in wastewater treatment and use of phosphorus in detergents. In 1800, the population of the UK was about 12 million and estimated emissions in human waste were 37 kt N, 6.2 kt P and 205 kt organic C per year. This would have been recycled to land with little or no sewage going directly to rivers or coastal waters. By 1900, population had increased to 35.6 million and some 145 kt N were emitted in human waste but, with only the major urban areas connected to sewers, only about 19 kt N were discharged in sewage effluent. With the use of phosphorus in detergents, estimated phosphorus emissions peaked at around 63.5 kt P/year in the 1980s, with about 28 kt P/year being discharged in sewage effluent. By 2010, population had increased to 63 million with estimated emissions of 263 kt N, 43.6 kt P and 1460 kt organic C per year, and an estimated effluent flux of 104kt N, 14.8 kt P and 63 kt organic C. Despite improvements in wastewater treatment, current levels of nutrient fluxes in sewage effluent are substantially higher than those in the early 20th century

Second generation anticoagulant rodenticide residues in barn owls 2020

The current report is the sixth in a series of annual reports that describe the monitoring of second generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) liver residues in barn owls Tyto alba in Britain. This work is an element of an overarching monitoring programme undertaken to track the outcomes of stewardship activities associated with the use of anticoagulant rodenticides. The barn owl is used for exposure monitoring as it is considered a sentinel for species that are generalist predators of small mammals in rural areas. The specific work reported here is the measurement of liver SGAR residues in 100 barn owls that died in 2020 at locations across Britain. The residue data are compared with those from 395 barn owls that died between 2006 and 2012 (hereafter termed baseline years), prior to changes in anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) authorisations and onset of stewardship. As in the baseline years, the compounds detected most frequently in barn owls that died in 2020 were brodifacoum, bromadiolone, and difenacoum. Overall, 88% of the owls had detectable liver residues of one or more SGAR. Numbers of barn owls containing detectable residues of flocoumafen and difethialone. There was no significant difference in the proportion of barn owls with detectable liver residues of flocoumafen between the baseline years and 2020. There was a significantly higher proportion of barn owls with detectable liver residues of difethialone in 2020 compared to baseline years (5% vs 0.3%) but it was lower than in some of the intervening years (2016-2019). The ratio of birds with “low” (100 ng/g wet wt.) concentrations for any single SGAR or for ∑SGARs. There were significantly higher proportion of birds from 2020 with “high” concentrations of brodifacoum and summed SGARs (ƩSGARs) detected in their livers compared to baseline years. Average concentrations of brodifacoum, difenacoum, bromadiolone and ∑SGARs in the cohort of owls with “low” residues (100 ng/g wet wt.). There was no significant difference between barn owls from baseline years and from 2020 in the concentrations of either “low” or “high” residues for all residues summed (∑SGARs), bromadiolone and difenacoum, or “high” brodifacoum residues. The median concentration of “low” brodifacoum residues was higher in birds from 2020 than in baseline years. Overall, there were few differences in liver SGAR accumulation between barn owls that died in baseline years and in 2020, the eception being a potential increase brodifacoum residues. The lack of significant reductions in SGAR residues in barn owls in 2020 suggests that full implementation of stewardship since 2018 has yet to result in a statistically significant reduction in exposure of barn owls to SGARs

Second generation anticoagulant rodenticide residues in barn owls 2019

The fifth in a series of annual reports describing the magnitude of second generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) liver residues in barn owls Tyto alba in Britain

Second generation anticoagulant rodenticide residues in barn owls 2021

The current report is the seventh in a series of annual reports that describe the monitoring of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) liver residues in barn owls Tyto alba in Britain. This work is an element of an overarching monitoring programme undertaken to track the outcomes of stewardship activities associated with the use of anticoagulant rodenticides. The barn owl is used for exposure monitoring as it is considered a sentinel for species that are generalist predators of small mammals in rural areas. The specific work reported here is the measurement of liver SGAR residues in 100 barn owls that died in 2021 at locations across Britain. The residue data are compared with those from 395 barn owls that died between 2006 and 2012 (hereafter termed baseline years), prior to changes in anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) authorisations and onset of stewardship. As in the baseline years, the compounds detected most frequently in barn owls that died in 2021 were brodifacoum, bromadiolone, and difenacoum. Overall, 79% of the owls had detectable liver residues of one or more SGAR. Numbers of barn owls containing detectable residues of flocoumafen and difethialone. There was no significant difference in the proportion of barn owls with detectable liver residues of flocoumafen between the baseline years and 2021. There was a significantly higher proportion of barn owls with detectable liver residues of difethialone in 2021 compared to baseline years (6% vs 0.3%), but it was lower than in some of the intervening years (2016-2019). The ratio of birds with “low” (100 ng/g wet wt.) concentrations for any single SGAR or for ΣSGARs. There were significantly higher proportion of birds from 2021 with “high” concentrations of brodifacoum and summed SGARs (ƩSGARs) detected in their livers compared to baseline years. Average concentrations of brodifacoum, difenacoum, bromadiolone and ΣSGARs in the cohort of owls with “low” residues (100 ng/g wet wt.). There was no significant difference between barn owls from baseline years and from 2021 in the concentrations of “high” residues for all SGAR residues, including ΣSGARs. In contrast, “low” bromadiolone and difenacoum residues were significantly lower in 2021 than baseline years, while “low” brodifacoum residues were significantly higher in 2021 than baseline years. Overall, there were significant differences in liver SGAR accumulation between barn owls that died in baseline years and in 2021: a potential reduction of bromadiolone and difenacoum and an increase of brodifacoum residues from 2016. However, the lack of significant reductions in sum of SGAR residues in barn owls in 2021 suggests that full implementation of stewardship since 2018 has yet to result in a statistically significant reduction in exposure of barn owls to SGARs

Second generation anticoagulant rodenticide residues in barn owls 2022

The current report is the eighth in a series of annual reports that describe the monitoring of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) liver residues in barn owls Tyto alba in Britain. This work is an element of an overarching monitoring programme undertaken to track the outcomes of stewardship activities associated with the use of anticoagulant rodenticides. The barn owl is used for exposure monitoring as it is considered a sentinel for species that are generalist predators of small mammals in rural areas. The specific work reported here is the measurement of liver SGAR residues in 88 barn owls that died in 2022 at locations across Britain. The residue data are compared with those from 395 barn owls that died between 2006 and 2012 (hereafter termed baseline years), prior to changes in anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) authorisations and onset of stewardship in 2016. As in the baseline years, the compounds detected most frequently in barn owls that died in 2022 were brodifacoum, bromadiolone, and difenacoum. Overall, 79.5% of the owls had detectable liver residues of one or more SGAR. Numbers of barn owls containing detectable residues of flocoumafen and difethialone. There was no significant difference in the proportion of barn owls with detectable liver residues of flocoumafen between 2022 and the baseline years (3% vs 0%). In contrast, there was a significantly higher proportion of barn owls with detectable liver residues of difethialone in 2022 compared to baseline years (6.8% vs 0.3%), but this proportion was lower than in some of the intervening years (2016-2021). The ratio of birds with “low” (100 ng/g wet wt.) concentrations for any single SGAR or for summed SGARs (ΣSGARs). There was a significantly higher proportion of birds with “high” concentrations of brodifacoum detected in their livers in 2022 than in the baseline years. Average concentrations of brodifacoum, difenacoum, bromadiolone and ΣSGARs in the cohort of owls with “low” residues (100 ng/g wet wt.). There was no significant difference between barn owls from baseline years and from 2022 in the concentrations of “high” residues for all SGAR residues, including ΣSGARs. In contrast, “low” bromadiolone and difenacoum residues were significantly lower in birds from 2022 than in the baseline years, while “low” brodifacoum residues were significantly higher in birds from 2022 than in the baseline years. Overall, there were significant differences in liver SGAR accumulation between barn owls that died in baseline years and in 2022: significant reductions of bromadiolone and difenacoum and an increase in brodifacoum residues from 2016. However, the lack of significant reductions in ΣSGAR residues in barn owls in 2022 suggests that full implementation of stewardship since 2018 has yet to result in a statistically significant reduction in exposure of barn owls to SGARs

Calcium and magnesium concentrations in plants used as human and animal foods derived from global literature.

The data comprise collated data on calcium and magnesium (milligrams per kilogram dry mass) in plants used as human and animal food (including fruit, vegetables, grasses, nuts and seeds) from global literature published between 1982 and 2019. Where reported strontium values are also included. Each data point is referenced