Institut für ökologische Chemie, Pflanzenanalytik und Vorratsschutz
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are biocidal products authorised in the European Union under the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) No. 528/2012. Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are classified as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) substances, posing a significant environmental risk. Consequently, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) re-evaluates their approval every five years based on the latest scientific evidence, with continued authorisation depending on appropriate risk mitigation measures. Generating robust monitoring data from different European regions is therefore essential to support ECHA's regulatory decisions and national authorisation practices.Slovenia, one of the most forested countries in Europe, provides an ideal setting for investigating wildlife exposure to ARs. This project aims to assess the occurrence of AR residues in wild boars (Sus scrofa), brown bears (Ursus arctos), and badgers collected through hunting programmes and wildlife monitoring. Liver samples will be analysed for all species, with additional analyses of muscle, fat, intestinal contents where available. Residues of anticoagulant rodenticides will be determined using LC-MS/MS.The study will provide the first comprehensive assessment of AR exposure in wildlife in Slovenia and the Western Balkans. It will identify key risk factors for secondary poisoning, evaluate environmental and food safety risks, and explore the potential effects of AR exposure on the gut microbiome and immune response in wild boars.
University of Ljubljana
