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Fish and agricultural chemicals: Safeguarding your pond J.B. Hunn, National Contaminant Research Center E.P. Multer, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - M.S. DeFelice, MU Department of Agronomy There are about 300,000 ponds and reservoirs on Acute toxicity is not the only way pesticide use private lands in Missouri as well as numerous miles of can result in a fish kill. streams and rivers that flow through them. In addition to acute toxic effects, secondary ef­ These water bodies serve a variety of uses, such as fects of pesticide use can also cause fish kills. fishing, swimming and water for livestock. For example, herbicide treatment of large areas of Some areas are also now being used to rear fish for weeds can cause oxygen depletion as dead weeds domestic use or for sale. decompose and can result in fish kills by suffocation. For example, cage culture of channel catfish is a Therefore, only one-third to one-half of dense new use of Missouri ponds. weed beds should be treated at one time to minimize The use of these waters for domestic and commer­versionthe possibility of fish loss. cial activities is beneficial for all Missouri residents. Unfortunately, these water bodies are also sus­ Relativeupdates toxicity ceptible to chemical contamination from agricultural The acute toxicity of a chemical to fish is usually activities such as accidental spills, drainage from expressed as 96 hr LC50 in parts per million (ppm or washing and cleaning of spray equipment and pesti­ mg/1). cide containers, drift from spraying operations or The relative acute toxicity of chemicals to fish can runoff from newly treated fields. forbe categorized as follows: An inspection of drainage areas will indicate which croplands have the greatest potential for runoff and Toxicity rating 96 hourLCSO contamination of water. Slightly toxic 10-lO0ppm When possible, crops should be planted on these Moderately toxic 1-lOppm lands which will require little or no pest control. Highly toxic 0.1-1.0 ppm If this is notArchive feasible, then the least toxic pesticide Extremely toxic less than 0.1 ppm needed to treat the crop should be the product of choice. The six tables, which give relative acute toxicity of This document is intended to assist you in select­ some herbicides, insecticides and fungicides to bluegill ing products which are leastcheck likely to have adverse sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) and channel catfish effects on your fish ponds. (Ictalurus punctatus), can be used to determine the If you are unsure of which products to use or have potential toxicity to fish of using these compounds other questions or need on-site assistance, contact around water bodies and to select products which are your local extension agent. less likely to cause problems. Several pesticides including algicides, herbicides The values are derived from laboratory studies and piscicides, are labelled for pest control in ponds and are given only as a guideline and not as absolute and waterways. These products have been tested and values of the toxicity of the chemicals to bluegill or cleared for use near or in aquatic environments. channel catfish. However, proper handling and use of pesticides Factors influencing the toxicity of chemicals to in aquatic areas is especially critical. Accidental spills fish are age, size, and health of the fish; water quality or overdoses can kill fish, or cause other damage to parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxy­ their habitat which will lead to reductions in the fish gen, and turbidity; amount and kind of aquatic vege­ population. tation present;concentration and formulation of chemi- $1.00 G 1912 r , /1 I cal and length of exposure. ponds and lakes: In many situations, therefore, the actual amount • Be especially careful when applying pesticides of chemical that will kill fish in a specific body of water labelled for use in aquatic environments. may be more or less than the LCS0 values given in this • Never treat more than one-third to one-half of a publication. weed infestation at a time. When chemical applica­ Nevertheless, the tables can help you select prod­ tions are made by ground or aerial equipment in the ucts which are least likely to have adverse effects on immediate vicinity of water, use low pressure and a water bodies susceptible to damage resulting from spray rate to produce large droplets to minimize drift. pesticide use. • Use any other operating practices which will reduce drift. Definitions • Delay chemical applications in the vicinity of Acute Toxicity: Chemical is lethal to fish, usually fish ponds until wind is blowing away from the pond. within 96 hours or less. • Use chemicals which are least toxic to fish when LC50: The concentration of a chemical estimated applying chemicals close to ponds. to be lethal to 50% of the test organisms (fish) after 96 • When possible, plant crops that require little or hours of exposure. no insect control close to fish ponds. The larger the value of the 96 hour LC50, the less • Check equipment regularly to insure good op­ toxic the chemical is to fish; the smaller the number, erating condition. the more toxic it is. • Aerial applicators should not fly over fish ponds Part per million: A concentration of one part per empty or loaded with pesticides. million (mg/1) is equal to: • A void use of span sprayers close to ponds. 2.72 pounds per acre-foot, 0.0038 grams per gal­ • Use products according to the label. lon, 1.303 quarts per acre-foot, 0.134 ounces per 1000 • Empty pesticide containers should not be dis­ gallons, 2 jiggers of Vermouth in a tank car of gin. carded into waterways. Acre-feet (A ft): 325,850 gallons, 43,560 cubic feet or 2,718,144 pounds of water. Sources of information One acre-foot equals the volume of water that has The toxicity values given in Tables 1 through 6 are an area of 1 surface acre and a depth of 1 foot. taken mainly from: Manual of Acute Toxicity: Interpretation and Calculations data base for 410 chemicals and 66 species of freshwa­ Acre-feet of water is determined by multiplying ter animals by F.L. Mayer,Jr. and M.R. Ellersieck, U.S. the surface area of the pond (in acres) by the average Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, depth in feet. Resource Publication 160, Washington, D.C., 579 pp., Surface area is determined by multiplying the 1986. length by the width. Herbicide Handbook, 5th edition, Weed Society The volume of a ditch or canal is defined as: of America, Champaign, Illinois, 515 pp., 1983. Agri­ V = A x L x 43,560 where: cultural chemical toxicity to selected aquatic animals: V = volume in acre-feet bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout, crawfish, and A = cross section area of channel in square feet freshwater shrimp. L = length of channel in feet Cooperative Extension Service Pub Ii cation 1455, The volume of a pond or lake is defined as: Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, V =Ax D where: Mississippi 39762 V = volume in acre-feet Other contacts for information include: A = area of water surface in acres Missouri Department of Conservation D = average depth in feet District Fishery Biologists U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Precautions Contaminant Biologist Be sure to read and follow label instructions be­ PO Box 1506, Columbia, Missouri fore using any chemical. 65205-1506 If you are not sure about applying chemicals to Information Center, National Fisheries fields adjacent or close to fish ponds, contact your Contaminant Research Center local extension agent for specific information. Route 2, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia In addition, the following recommendations Missouri 65201 should help reduce potential toxicity problems in University of Missouri Cooperative Extension University of Missouri, Columbia-Missouri Extremely Toxic Highly Toxic Moderately Toxic Slightly Toxic <0.1 ppm 0.1-1.0 ppm 1-lOppm 10-l00ppm Common Name Trade Name Common Name Trade Name Common Name Trade Name Common Name Trade Name ethalfluralin Sonalan 2,4-D butoxyethanol 2,4-D several 2,4-D /2,4,5-T ester (24%/28) fluchloralin Basalin dodecyl / 2,4-D /2,4,5-T tetradodecyl (30%/28%) amine salt 2,4-D propylene 2,4-DB several 2,4,5-T triethylamine salt 2,4-D /2,4,5-T acetochlor acifluorfen Blazer, Tackle (18%/19%) profluralin Tolban acrolein MagnacideH alachlor Lasso bensulide Prefar, Betasan ametryn Evik atrazine several bromoxynil Buctril azide potassium bromacil Hyvar, C) Krovar, Cl) :c::, others 0 butachlor Machete § benzoyl propethyl cacodylic acids several -Ill bifenox Modown chloramben Amiben .!!! ·c:;- diclofop methyl Hoelon butylate Sutan chlorpropham Furloe endothall several CDAA Randox ><0 cyanazine Bladex -Cl) ether ester chlorfl urenol several cyometrinil Concep ::, -u Copper ca Cl) ethylenediamine Komeen (Komeen) > i complex ci, glycol butyl DeadX cyprazine Outfox a: sodium azide Smite dichlobenil Casoron desmedipham Betanex Ill Cl) trefmid diethatyl ethyl Antor diallate Avadex "Cu :c... triclopyr Garlon dinitramine diphenamide Enide Cl) trifluralin Treflan, Trilin diuron Karmex, others EPTC Eptam, :I: ,.. Eradicane, Cl) others :c endothall fenac Fenatrol, ~ copper salt others Extremely Toxic Highly Toxic Moderately Toxic Slightly Toxic <0.lppm 0.1-1.0ppm 1-l0ppm 10-lO0ppm Common Name Trade Name Common Name Trade Name Common Name Trade Name Common Name Trade Name Endotoall fluometuron Cotoran, 282 Meturon ethofumesate Nortron fluridone Sonar, Brake flamprop-methyl Mataven C) G) glyphosate Roundup, linuron Lorox, Linex, ::I :c Rodeo, others MCPA several 0 dimethyl amine UI -G) salt ;:: u MCPB several ><0 merphos nitralin Planavin -G) methazole Probe norea Herban -::I naphthalic ~ Protect paraquat Gramoxone Super ~ ~ anhydride Advantage cii a: propachlor Ramrod picloram Tordon UI propanil Stam, Stampede prometon Pramitol G) 'Cu silvex several prometryn Caparol, :c..

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