Microencapsulation of Rodenticides

Abstract

Two characteristics which markedly influence the suitability of a toxic compound for use as a rodenticide are its palatability and the speed of onset of its toxic effects. At best a compound should have not only an attractive or at least a neutral flavour when mixed with bait, but also a delayed toxic action to allow ingestion of a lethal quantity of bait before the onset of warning symptoms. Only the anti-coagulants and the more hazardous (and therefore less frequently used) rodenticides such as thallous sulphate and the fluoroacetates go far to meet both requirements. Laboratory studies suggest that the efficiency of other compounds which are either used at present as rodenticides or are under examination could be improved by taste-masking, or delaying the onset of their toxic effects, or both. A preliminary investigation has been made of the possibility of obtaining this improvement using the technique of microencapsulation.