Environmental effects of the usage of avermectins in livestock

Abstract

Abamectin (avermectin B1) and ivermectin (22,23-dihydroavermectin B1) are high molecular weight hydrophobic compounds, active against a variety of animal parasites and insects. Numerous environmental fate and effects studies have been carried out in the development of these two compounds as antiparasitic agents and for abamectin as a crop protection chemical. They were found to be immobile in soil (Koc > or = 4000), rapidly photodegraded in water (degradation half-life (t1/2) in the summer 0.5 days or less) and as thin films on surfaces (t1/2 < 1 day), and aerobically degraded in soil (ivermectin in soil/feces mixtures (t1/2) = 7-14 days; avermectin B1a in soils, t1/2 = 2-8 weeks) to less bioactive compounds. Abamectin is not taken up from the soil by plants, nor is it bioconcentrated by fish (calculated steady-state bioconcentration factor of 52, with rapid depuration). Daphnia magna is the fresh water species found to be most sensitive to ivermectin and abamectin (LC50 values of 0.025 and 0.34 ppb respectively); fish (e.g. rainbow trout) are much less sensitive to these compounds (LC50 values of 3.0 ppb and 3.2 ppb, respectively). In the presence of sediment, toxicity toward Daphnia is significantly reduced. The metabolism and degradation of ivermectin and abamectin result in reduced toxicity to Daphnia. Abamectin and ivermectin possess no significant antibacterial and antifungal activity. They display little toxicity to earthworms (LC50 values of 315 ppm and 28 ppm in soil for ivermectin and abamectin, respectively) or avians (abamectin dietary LC50 values for bobwhite quail and mallard duck of 3102 ppm and 383 ppm, respectively), and no phytotoxicity. Residues of the avermectins in feces of livestock affect some dung-associated insects, especially their larval forms. This does not delay degradation of naturally formed cattle pats under field conditions; however, in some cases, delays have been observed with artificially formed pats. Based on usage patterns, the availability of residue-free dung and insect mobility, overall effects on dung-associated insects will be limited. As abamectin and ivermectin undergo rapid degradation in light and soil, and bind tightly to soil and sediment, they will not accumulate and will not undergo translocation in the environment, minimizing any environmental impact on non-target organisms resulting from their use.