The pesticides currently used in forest systems to control insect defoliators 

 (primarily the spruce budworm) , include Carbaryl or Sevine 1, Orthene, and 

 Dylox. These are short-lived and break down rapidly. Consequently, they do 

 not accumulate to toxic levels within food chains, as did some of the 

 persistent pesticides used in the past. DDT, a persistent pesticide, was used 

 in spruce budworm control in Maine from 1954 to 1967. Dylox is used primarily 

 near blueberry barrens along the coast, because of its low toxicity to 

 bumblebees, which pollinate blueberries. Orthene is used near lakes, ponds, 

 and rivers. Sevin has been used most extensively outside the coastal zone. 

 When used correctly at current concentration levels, these pesticides pose 

 little threat to the environment. The difficulties that do arise concerning 

 them are usually due to inadvertent overdosing, which results from drift 

 and/or imprecise positioning of aircraft during application. 



No direct mortality among fish and birds has been reported for the above 

 chemicals at current spray levels in coastal Maine (Dube 1977). However, 

 significant deviations in acetylcholinesterase activity (an indicator of 

 nervous system functioning) have been documented in salmonids, creek chubs, 

 and suckers that have been subjected to Matacil, Sevin, Dylox, and Sumithion 

 respectively (Rabeni 1978). Nontarget insects may be killed by the spray, and 

 species that utilize insects as food, such as most birds, mammals, fish, 

 amphibians, and reptiles may be affected in this way. Reductions in standing 

 crops of invertebrates in Maine streams have been found after spraying with 

 DDT (Dimond 1967), Sumithion (Rabeni and Gibbs 1976), and Sevin (Courtemanch 

 and Gibbs 1977). Orthene and Sumithion also have been shown to affect 

 invertebrates by increasing drift (downstream displacement) , without causing a 

 detectable decrease in standing crop. Although these chemicals may not be 

 acutely toxic the effects of long-term exposure on reproduction and behavior 

 are unknown. The acute and chronic effects of forest spraying on songbirds 

 are discussed, in chapter 16, "Terrestrial Birds." The impact of pesticides 

 is also discussed below under "Agricultural Impacts." 



The larger paper mills and, to a lesser extent, sawmills and wood products 

 industries are sources of air pollution and water pollution. Licenses are 

 required for operating these facilities and they are monitored by the Maine 

 Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) . The major water quality 

 problems associated with these operations are the discharge of heavy metals 

 (e.g., lead and copper) and organic materials. The effects of their waste 

 water effluent are described below under "Industry and Populations." 



AGRICULTURE 



Agricultural lands (croplands, pasture lands, and blueberry barrens) comprise 

 about 4% of the coastal zone. An additional 2% consists of abandoned 

 agricultural lands. Soil erosion and runoff from manure, fertilizers, and 

 pesticides sometimes pose ecological problems. According to 

 paleolimnological studies (Davis and Norton 1978) , agriculture has greater 

 effects on lakes in New England than any other activity. Agricultural 



*■ Use of trade name does not imply government endorsement. 



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