Pestered by pesticides

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The study, authored by German and Swiss academics, measured the impact of seven pesticides on juvenile European common frogs and found startling results ranging from 100% mortality rates after an exposure of only one hour, to 40% mortality after seven days of exposure to a different chemical. Frogs were exposed to pesticides at levels that are currently recommended.

There is currently no specific risk assessment around amphibians for new pesticide products, unlike mammals and birds. However, amphibians are highly at risk due to their ability to inhabit both aquatic and terrestrial environments (which could mean dual exposure to nasties) and to their permeable skin which absorbs chemicals two orders of magnitudes faster than mammals.

Amphibians, which include frogs, toads, newts and salamanders, are the most quickly declining and most threatened vertebrate group on the planet. With the reduction of forests and loss of habitats, many amphibians have moved into agricultural habitat types and are therefore more susceptible to chemical inputs like pesticides.

To see the study, and the chemicals that were tested visit here.