Banned farm pesticides reaching UK rivers via pet flea treatments

Fipronil and imidacloprid, banned as agricultural pesticides for harming bees and wildlife, are contaminating UK rivers through household wastewater from treated pets, the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee found. The chemicals, common in spot-on flea treatments for cats and dogs, are killing aquatic invertebrates. The committee urged restricting sales to vets and pharmacists only.