THE SHORT ANSWER IS “NO, IT DOES NOT”.

BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF A PRESENTATION BY M.J.JARMAN TO THE ERMANZ PUBLIC HEARINGS ON 1080.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PAGE REFERENCES REFER TO THE FULL SUBMISSION CONTENTS AS PRESENTED TO THE ERMANZ REVIEW BY ESPC;

Margie L. Jarman. MSc. Cum laude.

BSc Natal University – majored in Botany and Chemistry

BScHons – University of Cape Town – Botany (Ecology, Physiology)

MSc (with distinction) Botany/Computer Science – University of Cape Town - 1981

“Computer analysis of satellite imagery for mapping purposes” (4 published papers)

UED – University Education Diploma, Natal University.

1080: its chemistry, and the role of micro-organisms in its break down.  M L Jarman  (Page 197)

Emotive statements made to the NZ public .. lack real scientific basis.  There are flaws, inaccuracies and unknowns in the whole subject of the chemistry of 1080 and its microbial de-fluorination, which make it misleading to the NZ public and dangerous to the NZ environment. (Page 197)

1. What is manufactured 1080? (Page 198)

Sodium monofluoroacetate is the chemical name which accurately describes the structure of manufactured 1080 used for pest control in New Zealand, and is the chemical name which should always be used in scientific publications and popular reports issued by agencies in New Zealand.  It is sloppy and misleading to do otherwise. (Page 199)

2. Is there a natural form of manufactured 1080? (Page 199)

There is no natural form of manufactured 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate). (Page 199)

There has been ambiguity in the use of the statement that manufactured 1080 is the same chemical as a naturally occurring compound, which has misled the public.  This needs to be acknowledged to the public. (Page 200)

3. What is the chemical structure (what the molecule looks like) of manufactured 1080? (Page 200)

This is misleading to most members of the public and irrelevant to many scientists without strong Chemistry backgrounds. (Page 202)

  

4. How is 1080 manufactured? (Page 202)

Presumably, the chemical is manufactured under conditions of high temperatures, low pressure – or with the use of catalysts.

The answer to this question is still being sought after. Tull Factory owners are unlikely to advertise their chemical process!

5. What is the chemical structure of potassium monofluoroacetate? (Page 202)

The structure of the naturally occurring potassium monofluoroacetate is CH2FCOOK, with potassium (K) atom replacing the sodium (Na) atom in sodium monofluoroacetate.

6.  How and why does a plant manufacture monofluoroacetate? (Page 202

There is no simple answer to this question.  It needs further investigation, both in the literature and experimentally. This should be acknowledged to the public. (Page 202)

7.  Why is potassium monofluoroacetate (one of the naturally occurring forms of fluoroacetate) not manufactured instead of the sodium version? (Page 203)

Presumably it is more difficult to manufacture, and therefore more costly to produce?

8.  What is monofluoroacetate? (Fluoroacetate) (Page203)

Regardless of the source of the monofluoroacetate molecule, it is the component of 1080 which causes death. (Page 203)

9. Why is monofluoroacetate (fluoroacetate) so toxic? (Page 204)

Fluoroacetate is a unique poison. It is much more toxic than other fluoride compounds because of its ability to fit such a vulnerable niche in cellular metabolism and indeed because of the tenacity of the fluorine-acetate bond. (Page 205)

10. How common are the plants that contain monofluoroacetate? (Page 205)

Page 207.

There is ambiguity and error contained in the statements: (1)that many plants produce sodium monofluoroacetate. Naturally occurring products are either monofluoroacetate or a completely different chemical; and (2) that they are common and widespread. In the initial search for publications citing the plant species, the above are the ones that have come to light.  This search is ongoing.  There are no New Zealand examples.

These plants also represent a very small percentage of the total flora in each of the regions mentioned above.  (These percentages are being researched.) They occur in tropical regions growing on soils of ancient origins where there is herbivory.

11.  What chemicals can manufactured 1080 break down into and how?  (Page 207)

The information given to the public, about the break down of 1080 into harmless products is incomplete and incorrect.  This needs to be acknowledged by the agency responsible, namely Forest and Bird.  The possible breakdown products when the C-C bond is broken in sunlight, over time and in solution, are sodium bicarbonate and methyl fluoride (NOT SALT AND VINEGAR) . (Page 208)

12. What is microbial de-fluorination? (Page 209) 

Certain soil bacteria and fungi are able to cleave the fluoro-carbon bond in a process called microbial de-fluorination.  (Page 209)

13. What are these “commonly occurring” micro-organisms that can de-fluorinate 1080 and how widespread and common are they? (Page 209)

Conclusions: (Page 210)

Most of the microbial work reported on has been done on Australian soils under controlled conditions. 

The New Zealand examples have also been done under controlled laboratory conditions.

There are different motivations for the work in Australia and New Zealand. 

Some plants can also de-fluorinate fluoroacetate.  This is still being investigated in the literature.

There is no mention of the total distribution of micro-organisms in New Zealand soils.

14.  What are the products of de-fluorination?(Page 210)

The cleaving of the strong C-F bond in sodium monofluoroacetate would release Fluoride ions (F-) 1. (Page 210)

15.  Where are the products of de-fluorination? (Page 210)

The products of de-fluorination could be initially in the upper layers of the soil or in the litter layers on the soil surface, imbibed by fungi or bacteria  onto plant cellulose, and then in the plants or algae in streams and rivers.  This needs to be researched further. (Page 211)

16. What are the factors controlling microbial activity? (Page 211)

Temperature (both soil and air), position of micro-organisms in the soil profile (near the surface or deeper), soil pH , amount of carbon available in the soil and the bait , availability of micro-organisms, how efficient the particular type of micro-organisms are at de-fluorination, how long it takes them to de-fluorinate, moisture content of soil not just rainfall. (Page 211)

The often quoted examples of the success of microbial de-fluorination studied in controlled laboratory conditions, cannot be extrapolated into the real New Zealand outdoor environment without further URGENT, CAREFULLY DIRECTED AND COSTLY RESEARCH AND TESTING. This needs to be acknowledged to the New Zealand Public. (Page 212)

THE USE OF 1080 SHOULD BE STOPPED UNTIL THIS IS DONE. (Page 213)