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Mourad W. Gabriel, MS, PhD, Co-Director, Integral Ecology Research Center, Blue Lake, CA; Research Associate Faculty, On Health Institute, Wildlife Health Center, University of California, Davis

Robert H. Poppenga, DVM, PhD, DABVT, California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis

Emerging Occupational and Environmental Hazards Associated with Large Scale

Marijuana Production Mourad W. Gabriel, MS, PhD: I have nothing to disclose

Disclosure Slide

Robert H. Poppenga, DVM, PhD, DABVT:: I have nothing to disclose

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• Four fisher deaths

• 79% exposed

• 1.61 rodenticides

• Kit exposed233% Increase

• 9 additional poisonings

• 85% exposed, up from 79%

• 1.73 rodenticides per fisher

• Poisoning per year up from 5.6% to 18.7%

2012 Paper

Exposure

Mortality

N.CA Sierras All CA

2015 Paper

Exposure

Mortality

Nov 2015- Jan 201714 months of data

Exposure

Mortality

72%

2

83%

2

79%

4

84%

5

86%

4

85%

9

100% (n= 9)

2

100% (n= 17)

2

100% (n= 26)

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The Fisher Became the Canary in the Coal Mine

• Other Species?

• The Environment?

• Water, Soil, Plants…..

• Humans?

• Community Members

• Law Enforcement

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What does Trespass Marijuana Cultivation look like?

Fragmented landscape

Remote Forest

What Does a Camp Site Look Like?

What Does a Trash Dump Look Like?

What Do Water Diversions Look Like?What We Still Don’t Know

§ Is water below grow sites contaminated?

§ Is soil within cultivation plots contaminated?

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• Monitored water courses below 14 grow site complexes

Detected pesticides: 7 of the 14 (50%) water samples.• Organophosphates and Carbamates

• Passive sampling: Qualitative results

Detected pesticides in 6 of the 13 (46%) soil samples.

Current data demonstrate grow site toxicants are

still detected years after eradication.

• Organophosphates and Carbamates

• Qualitative results

Are Grow Sites and Cultivators Poisoning and Poaching Wildlife?

Law Enforcement Discovers and Reports Dead Wildlife Discovered at Grow Sites

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Number of Suspected Poisoning 24

Number of Shot Wildlife 47

Number of Confirmed Poisoning 19

Percent of Sites in California Where Carbofuran was Detected

Data Demonstrates Environmental Contamination in and Near Cultivation Sites.

What Precautions Should You Take to Minimize Your Exposure to Toxicants?

What are CLEAR examples of Hazardous Materials at Grow Sites?

• Pesticides (Common)

• Organophosphates

• Carbamates

• Rodenticides

• Molluscicides

• Herbicides (Rarely)

• Batteries

• Car and personal

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Mean Amount of Fertilizer and Toxicants perCultivation Location (n=77)

Soluble Fertilizer kgs (lbs) 1,268 lb

Liquid Fertilizer L (oz) 1,353 oz

Carbamates 48 oz

Organophosphates 82 oz

Pyrethroids 205 oz

Neonicotinoids 21 oz

Avermectins 90 oz

1st Gen ARs kgs (lbs) 17 lb

2nd Gen ARs 9 lb

Neurotoxicant Rodenticides 8.7 lb

Phosphides 4.4 lb

Molluscicides 21 lb

What are CRYPTIC Examples of Hazardous Materials at Grow Sites?

• Presumed Carbofuran (CF): 10 out of 32 grow site complexes 32%

• Six of the 10 discoveries were AFTER the first visit.• 60% of presumed CF was missed on initial visits.

Common Bottle Encountered (Pink Liquid)

New Developments

Forms of Carbofuran Discovered in California

Clear Liquid (caveats) Pink Powder

(caveats) White Powder (caveats)

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Mode of Action for Carbofuran & others.. Pesticides

Field Safety

What reality is….. Before Eradication Season Begins• Does your Operational Plan have the nearest medical

center trained for pesticide poisoning?

• Do you have the #’s for Poison Control Centers?

• Does that medical center carry on hand Atropine, 2-PAM or other treatments necessary to reverse or alleviate symptoms?

• What about K9 units, what centers are open 24hrs, are they equipped to handle toxicosis cases?

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Back in your pack?

What do you do with these contaminated gloves now?

In shirt/pant pockets?

Back in a plastic bag: Seal it or tie it off.

Do not assume all water lines, ponds, cisterns are clean.

Water Infrastructure Recommendations

DO NOT Cut/Hack/Destroy Line without knowing the source status.

Turn check valves off, remove or destroy timers or pull source line out of cisterns.

Cisterns with Unknown Residue

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Removing Water Diversions/ Impediments

• No Carbofuran detected on site.• Placed water monitoring devices.• Carbofuran detected throughout the

watercourse above cistern.

Plant Contamination

Why is a toothbrush being used as an applicator for this unknown pesticide?

Brushing the Stalks of Plants

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What do you find at the bottom of these plants? Carbamates: Poison Bait Cans

• Growers will place toxicants in food cans to poison wildlife.

• Sprayers may be filled with these compounds .

• Again, color is not a true indicator of compound type.

Some Notable Poisoning CasesTwo Separate Locations

• Location 1: One dead gray fox with nearby food items.• Nestled in the fox is a dead vulture.

• Location 2: One dead bear with nearby food items.• ≤ 2meters is a dead vulture.

NOTE: Many dead and dying flies. Positive for Carbofuran

Machete plants down: Forces close plant proximity

Long-handle pruning shears: Increases buffer between LEO

and plant

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Clothing and Gear Concerns

Gloves

Pants, shirts, gear

Do you see any issue with this method of destroying plants?

• Resin on machine

• Concentrating contamination

• Aerosolizing contaminants

• Pesticides

• Aflatoxins

Suspects in Custody: How they viewed Wildlife

• All viewed wildlife as nuisance, pest or food items.

• Some shot wildlife because they were “bored”.

How they Approached Nuisance Wildlife

• Some stated they just shot at them.

• Some placed poisons on MJ or native plants to discourage plant damage.

• Placed poisons in or around campsites, camps or perimeter of grows.

• Protect plants or food

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K9 Health: Can Grow Site Hazards Pose a Risk to K9 Officers

• Toxicants at sites?

• Pad exposure

• Olfactory use?

• Water sources?

What are the Potential Dangers Being from Contaminates in Net Loads?

• Rotor wash?

• Aerosolizing material to individuals below?

Eradication or Reclamation

• What is the goal for the day?

• Disrupt? ERAD and Reclamation? Define these before

• Ensure proper PPE is available.…

• And, qualified personnel available to address evolving situations..

Each day should start off with a Safety Briefing.

• Opportunity for LEOs to ask questions.

• Both experienced and new personnel.

• Start the communication line.

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Thank You & Questions?