Dear Mr. Theriault,
You are right. I spoke to Perry Martos, at lab services at Guelph, and it is
possible to test for glyphosate, 2,4-D, or triclopyr, but for at least some
of these they would have to develop the methods to do so.
Mr. Martos agreed that they would be unlikely to find residues of these
herbicides because they are rapidly excreted from the body of animals, and
do not accumulate in the meat. Herbicides are not the reason this meat is
making you sick.
They are able to do other tests on this meat, such as for microbial
contamination. If you are interested in determining what the problem is,
they are the ones who can provide an answer.
Where was the bear shot? Knowing the location would help eliminate 2,4-D as
the culprit because it is used on only a few of the forest management units
in Ontario. If I know the location, I can find this out for you.
Thank you for your email.
Michael Irvine, Ph.D.
Provincial Vegetation Management Specialist
Forest Health and Silviculture Section
Forest Management Branch
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
70 Foster Drive, Suite 400
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
P6A 6V5
Phone 705-945-5724
Fax 705-945-6667
michael.irvine@mnr.gov.on.ca
-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Theriault [mailto:theriaultjoel@hotmail.com]
Sent: January 12, 2005 2:12 PM
To: michael.irvine@mnr.gov.on.ca
Cc: TheriaultJoel@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Your voicemail message
Dear. Mr. Irvine,
I contacted U of Guelph to ask them if they could test for herbicides but
they said they couldn't. I understand that 2, 4-D is sprayed in the area,
and the symptoms we're recieving are identical to short term poisoning....
What would you have the meat tested for? And what do you think could be
wrong... Also of interest, is that a good friend of mine shot a bear in the
same area, and is having the same problems with the meat....?
please advise,
Joel Theriault
>From: michael.irvine@mnr.gov.on.ca
>To: theriaultjoel@hotmail.com
>Subject: RE: Your voicemail message
>Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2005 09:37:28 -0500
>
>
>Dear Mr. Theriault,
>
>Sorry to hear about your tainted bear. I recommend you stop eating it
>until
>you find out what is wrong with it. I would rule out herbicides, given
>that
>the ones applied in the forest do not accumulate in meat. For a recent
>publication discussing herbicide effects on wildlife in the forest see:
>
>Lautenschlager, R.A. and Sullivan, T.P. 2002. Effects of herbicide
>treatments on biotic components in regenerating northern forests. For.
>Chron. 78(5): 695-731.
>
>To determine what is wrong with your bear meat, I recommend you contact the
>forensic food testing service at the University of Guelph. You can phone
>them at 519-767-6299 or visit their web page at:
>
>http://www.uoguelph.ca/labserv/Analytical_Services/Microscopy.htm
>
>Please contact me again if you would like to discuss this further.
>
>
>Michael Irvine, Ph.D.
>Provincial Vegetation Management Specialist
>Forest Health and Silviculture Section
>Forest Management Branch
>Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
>70 Foster Drive, Suite 400
>Sault Ste. Marie, ON
>P6A 6V5
>Phone 705-945-5724
>Fax 705-945-6667
>michael.irvine@mnr.gov.on.ca
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Joel Theriault [mailto:theriaultjoel@hotmail.com]
>Sent: January 11, 2005 3:57 PM
>To: michael.irvine@mnr.gov.on.ca
>Cc: TheriaultJoel@hotmail.com
>Subject: RE: Your voicemail message
>
>Mr. Irvine,
>
>I'm not really sure either... I was told by Mr. Wayne Bell that you were
>the
>
>herbicide expert for the MNR. I had a couple questions about the
>herbicides
>
>used in my area and tests which had been done on them...
>
>I believe that the reference to you came as a result of my question
>regarding bear meat. I harvested a bear this fall in an area with heavy
>forestry activity over the years and heavy herbicide use. it was at least
>30 miles from any dump so I ruled that out. Everytime I cook the meat, my
>friends and I get dry itchy eyes. My girlfriend gets a bad head ache and
>nausea. All of the symptoms occur within half an hour (usually 5 to 10
>minutes) after eating the meat. I'm trying to figure out whats wrong with
>the bear. What would I test it for & where would I test it?
>
>Thanks,
>Joel Theriault
>
>
>
> >From: michael.irvine@mnr.gov.on.ca
> >To: theriaultjoel@hotmail.com
> >Subject: Your voicemail message
> >Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 09:06:15 -0500
> >
> >Dear Mr. Theriault,
> >
> >
> >
> >Thank you for your voice message.
> >
> >
> >
> >You did not tell me what area you were interested in, so I cannot answer
> >your question directly. For areas treated and the herbicides used in
>your
> >area, you should contact the local MNR district office, who will have
>this
> >information.
> >
> >
> >
> >I am pleased to discuss any aspect of the use of herbicides on Ontario's
> >crown forests with you.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Michael Irvine, Ph.D.
> >Provincial Vegetation Management Specialist
> >Forest Health and Silviculture Section
> >Forest Management Branch
> >Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
> >
> >70 Foster Drive, Suite 400
> >Sault Ste. Marie, ON
> >P6A 6V5
> >
> >Phone 705-945-5724
> >Fax 705-945-6667
> >michael.irvine@mnr.gov.on.ca
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