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1080 vertebrate toxic agent used for possum control in forests and bush areas

1080 is an animal poison used to control targeted animal pests, particularly possums. In New Zealand, possums devastate native forests and wildlife. Some possums also carry the disease tuberculosis.

1080 is naturally in some plants

The chemical name for 1080 is sodium monofluoroacetate. It is a water-soluble, naturally occurring toxin found in some plants that probably evolved to deter browsing animals. Among the plants that produce it are many varieties of tea, so tea drinkers are often naturally consuming very small amounts of 1080 that pose no safety risk.

One of 1080’s main advantages is that it is biodegradable and therefore doesn't stay in the soil or waterways. In most animals (including humans) small amounts of 1080 are quickly metabolised in the body without harm. In large enough amounts it quickly stops energy production in the animal’s body. Some animals, including dogs, are more sensitive to 1080. Although technically it could be harmful to humans, the amount of bait that someone would have to eat before falling ill is large.

The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) New Zealand reassessed 1080 in 2008.

ERMA’s reassessment of 1080 [ERMA New Zealand]

Proper use of 1080 poses a low risk to human health

Use of 1080 is tightly controlled to ensure that any health risk to people is extremely low. It is a controlled substance and consents are required before any operation using 1080 can be carried out.

1080 can be highly toxic for humans, but to get sick you would need to:

• eat at least 100g of carrot baits (1080-laced carrots are dyed bright green so they cannot be mistaken for normal carrots), or

• drink over 5000 litres of water, in one sitting, from a waterway directly contaminated by a poison drop, or

• eat at least 37kg of meat, in one sitting, from a sheep that died of 1080 poisoning (the meat from about 2.5 average-sized sheep).

Controls ensure food is safe

Usage protocols require livestock to be excluded from areas undergoing treatment with 1080 until the hazard period has passed. Should a risk to the food supply be identified in an area where 1080 is used, we will assess the situation and take appropriate action to ensure food is safe.

Feral deer for human consumption are subject to strict protocols that require the animal to be sourced from 1080-free areas. Processors of feral venison must take special care when sourcing animals to ensure their product meets requirements and is safe to eat.

We run testing programmes to ensure that these controls are working. We have not detected 1080 in any commercially-produced foods (including meat and milk) since testing began in 1999.

Feral game such as deer and goats in forests can sometimes consume 1080 baits and not die. Recreational or commercial hunters should take care and ensure they do not take animals showing signs of sickness and lethargy. To assist hunters and others signage is required to be put up to warn you that an area has been treated with 1080.

You should not hunt or collect food such as eels in and around areas laid with 1080 baits, and don’t feed pets or working animals with meat or offal that may contain 1080 (or any other poison).

The trace levels of 1080 that very rarely may be found in stream water after a drop pose no threat either to the shellfish harvested from areas fed by those streams, or to consumers of those shellfish. Any baits falling into streams would be very quickly diluted to such low concentrations that no significant residues are likely in fish or water plants.

See ‘Caution periods’ in the ‘Poisons and toxic residues’ section.

Poisons and toxic residues

Related links

• Brodifacoum vertebrate toxic agent used for possum and rat control on islands and fence-enclosed areas

• Food safety for recreational hunters

• Frequently asked questions about 1080 [Department of Conservation]

• Bovine Tb control programme [Animal Health Board]

Updated 20 November 2009