Acute toxicity of the bird repellent, methyl anthranilate, to fry of Salmo salar, Oncorhynus mykiss, Ictalurus punctatus and Lepomis macrochirus

• Published in: Pesticide Science
• Main Authors: Clark, Larry, Cummings, John, Bird, Steven, Aronov, Eugeny
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1993
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ps.2780390411; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fps.2780390411; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ps.2780390411

Abstract Several laboratory and field studies have shown methyl anthranilate to be an effective, non‐toxic and non‐lethal bird repellent, with application potential for protecting crops, seeds, turf and fish stocks from bird damage. Furthermore, methyl anthranilate can be added to liquids for the purposes of protecting migratory birds, e.g. addition to waste water associated with mining and to standing water pools at airports. Mammalian toxicity data are favorable. Methyl anthranilate is used as a fragrance and food flavoring and is GRAS listed by the US Food and Drug Administration. Despite the favorable outlook for methyl anthranilate's use as a safe repellent, no data exist on its environmental fate and effects. We have tested the acute toxicity of methyl anthranilate in a static system against the fry of four species of fish. The LC 50 at 24 h for Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) was 32.3 mg liter −1 , with the no observable effect limit at 6 mg liter −1 . The LC 50 at 24 h for rainbow trout ( Oncorhynus mykiss Richardson) was 23.5 mg liter −1 , with the no observable effect limit at 5 mg liter −1 . The LC 50 at 24 h for channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus Raf.) was estimated to be 20.1 mg liter −1 , with the no observable effect limit at 7 mg liter −1. The LC 50 at 24 h for bluegill sunfish ( Lepomis macrochirus Raf.) was estimated to be 19.8 mg liter −1 , with the no observable effect limit at 7 mg liter −1. .