Evidence for a Causal Link between Exposure to an Insecticide Formulation and Declines in Catch of Atlantic Salmon

Autor: W.L. Fairchild, S.B. Brown
Rok vydání: 2003
Předmět:
Zdroj: Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal. 9:137-148
ISSN: 1549-7860
1080-7039
DOI: 10.1080/713609856
Popis: We report a case study showing relationships between historical insecticide applications (1973 to 1990) of an aminocarb formulation (Matacil® 1.8D ) containing 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and catch data for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations. To address the hypothesis that Matacil® 1.8D caused reductions in Atlantic salmon catch, seven epidemiological criteria are used to evaluate causality between the stressor and effect. These criteria include: strength of association; consistency of association; specificity of association; time order; biological gradient; experimental support; and biological plausibility. We conclude that the general weight-of-evidence supporting the seven epidemiological criteria is consistent with a causal relationship between declines in salmon catch and Matacil® 1.8D exposure during parr-smolt transformation (PST). If the effects exerted by 4-NP are due to its activity as a weak estrogen, then hormonal activity stemming from other sources (e.g., domestic sewage, agricultural, indus...
Databáze: OpenAIRE