Is Rotenone dangerous?
Rotenone is derived from several tropical and subtropical plants in the bean family. It has been used in North America since the 1930s in ponds and lakes for fish sampling and to completely eradicate undesirable fish populations. I thas been approved for fishery use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Rotenone affects all species of fish, although susceptibility to the chemical varies between species. The chemical inhibits a biochemical process at the cellular level making it impossible for fish to use oxygen in the release of energy needed for body processes. Rotenone is non-persistent, so there is no accumulation in the water, soil, plants or surviving animals. The breakdown process is very rapid. Ultimately, rotenone breaks down into carbon dioxide and water, two common substances. In 2007 the U.S. EPA completed an evaluation of the human health and ecological risks associated with rotenone. In that evaluation, EPA concluded that rotenone could be used safely for fish manag
