JOHN CRAVEN
Our waterways are polluted with toxic pesticides from flea treatments we use on our cats and dogs. Find out what you can do to help reduce the impact.
These are worrying times for our waterways. Across the length and breadth of England, rivers, lakes and streams are polluted by a filthy mixture of sewage, chemical discharges and agricultural run-off. A measly 16% of them are rated as being of a good ecological standard.
The bleak picture comes from the Environment Agency, which checked on 4,600 waterways, and the results don’t bode well for reaching the official target of 100% healthy waters by 2027. Now comes news of an extra threat from an unexpected source: Britain’s pet owners, as they get rid of fleas on our 11 million cats and 10 million dogs.
The pesticides involved – fipronil and imidacloprid – have been banned on farms but there is no restriction on their use in flea control products. I’ve read claims that one dose of imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid, is enough to wipe out 60 million bees. Researchers from the University of Sussex found rivers to be routinely and chronically contaminated with both these highly toxic chemicals and say the findings are “extremely concerning”.
From 3,861 samples taken from 20 UK rivers, fipronil was found in 98% of them and imidacloprid in 66%. Highest levels were downstream of treatment works, implying they were washed into drains and sewers after being applied to pets, with potentially devastating effects on water insects and the food chain that depends on them – from fish to birds.
The charity Buglife is e-petitioning Parliament, demanding these pesticides be banned immediately. “Populations of our mayflies, caddisflies, water beetles and other aquatic life are being imperilled by these incredibly potent nerve agents,” says its chief executive Matt Shardlow. “There are many other similar chemicals used as pet medicines but we do not know if they are polluting the countryside or how toxic they are to wildlife,” Shardlow adds. “Pet owners need to know they’re not causing environmental destruction so it’s imperative the Government undertakes a full review of the risks posed by flea treatments.”
RESPONSIBLE USE
Oxfordshire vet Martin Whitehead worked with the Sussex researchers and says that, until now, many in his profession have not realised the dangers posed. He doesn’t agree with the widely used practice of ‘blanket’ treatment, applying the liquid to pets every month whether they have fleas or not. “I advise my clients not to treat during the cold months from December to late April when there are fewer fleas and ticks around,” he told me.
“Regrettably, there is no other effective treatment; hundreds of natural remedies claim to kill fleas, but they don’t. So less is best and the veterinary profession urgently needs to adopt the responsible use of parasiticides in the same way it has done with antibiotics.” Whitehead is calling for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to strengthen environmental assessments when authorising pet pesticides.
But what can dog and cat owners do to help the environment while lessening the chance of a flea infestation? Whitehead’s advice is to use a fine comb regularly and should you spot fleas, that is the time to apply treatment. Other precautions are to change all bedding regularly and vacuum floors, furniture and skirting boards. Then just hope your pet doesn’t start to scratch!
“Pet owners need to know they’re not causing destruction”