40 Years of the IST
The Irish Society of Toxicology
Cumann Tocsaineolaíochta na hÉireann
Est. 1985 - 2026
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The Irish Society of Toxicology were delighted to welcome back student presentations at the 2025 Annual Meeting
Darragh Doherty is a final-year PhD student in the Centre for Health and Safety at Work and the Centre for Toxicology Department, University College Dublin. His research focuses on conducting environmental and occupational human biomonitoring studies of pesticides in Ireland. In this presentation, he discussed two studies examining exposures to neonicotinoid insecticides in Ireland. The first of these studies showcased widespread, but low-level exposures to seven neonicotinoid insecticides among the general Irish population. The other study examined exposures to a specific neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid, during a home-use scenario. Imidacloprid is used as a flea treatment for pets, and urine samples were collected from pet owners before and after applying a flea treatment containing imidacloprid. Increased exposures compared to the general population were seen among pet owners, but these exposures were below any health-based guidance value, indicating a safe level of exposure, based on current European guidelines.
Any queries about this presentation can be sent to darragh.doherty@ucdconnect.ie.
Aoife Owens currently serves as an Assistant Agricultural Inspector at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. She leverages her expertise in microbiology and quality assurance to ensure the efficacy and compliance of biocides, inclusive of rodenticides.
She had undertaken a part-time research master's degree in AgriBiosciences with University of Galway from 2023 to 2025, with her primary research focusing on the ongoing development of anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) resistance and the available mitigation measures to prevent further progression.
In this presentation, she examined the following topics: the prevalence of rodenticide resistance across EU Member States, the UK, and New Zealand, along with the potential implications for Ireland and the risk mitigation strategies designed to prevent the negative impacts of rodenticide use. Additionally, she explored the perceptions and knowledge of Irish amateur users regarding rodenticide application, based on survey data.
Findings from this research indicate strong evidence of AR resistance in Ireland, the EU, the UK, and New Zealand. The study identified integrated pest management (IPM), 1080 toxicants, fertility control, and traps as plausible control measures, either in conjunction with or independent of ARs. It also revealed that amateur users may be potentially misusing ARs due to a knowledge gap.
Any queries about this presentation can be sent to aoife.owens@agriculture.gov.ie.