neonicotinoid

Top US Bee Experts: Nicotine Pesticides Worsen Bee Diseases

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on February 12, 2012 - 21:34

This is a really big deal:

A team of the top United States honeybee experts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Beltsville, Maryland, laboratory near Washington DC has published a damning report linking tiny sub-lethal concentrations of one nicotine pesticide, imidacloprid, with an increase in another common gut disease, Nosema.

Although many other studies before this suggested similar findings, the US government has been far behind - this is therefore a breakthrough. It also acknowledges some of the major work done by French researchers: until now, the groundbreaking French research was largely ignored by official US government agencies. Look for breakthroughs because of this work.

The original article linked above was released for public/open access (thanks Springer Publishing for making this open access!!). It is a top-downloaded article at this time on Springer's website.

Abstract of Original Article:

Global Simultaneous Die-Offs of Multiple Species

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on January 24, 2012 - 16:20

This great article in two parts, from Australia, details the mass die-offs around the world, of many species - including the beautiful Ladybird Beetle that is surprisingly important to the web of life: Original Articles at: Part One: http://hydroponics.com.au/free-articles/where-have-all-the-ladybirds-gone and Part Two: http://hydroponics.com.au/free-articles/where-have-all-the-ladybirds-gon...

Where have all the ladybirds gone? Part 1

By Marilyn Steiner and Stephen Goodwin

In this two-part article, the authors shine a spotlight on neonicotinoid pesticides against a backdrop of widespread use of this group and concerning reports of an alarming and increasing loss of biodiversity. While honey bees have been the focus of concern, other pollinators and invertebrates, birds and even the lowly earthworm are at risk.

Major Study: Multiple Routes of Pesticide Exposure for Honeybees Living Near Agricultural Fields

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on January 14, 2012 - 13:13

A major new study from Purdue University researchers highlights that honeybees face a long list of pesticide dangers near agriculture. Multiple toxic agents combined, via several simultaneous routes of exposure mean bees are in peril from many sources.

The complete article is open-access from PLos ONE, attached above (thanks PLos ONE and the authors for making this important article OPEN ACCESS!!!).

Toxic food.

I'm concerned that our food would be toxic in multiple ways simultaneously.

Pesticide Risk Increases Over Time

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on January 5, 2012 - 20:01

A very important shift may be occurring in our understanding of pesticides: risk may increase over time, rendering even very small amounts of pesticides such as some nicotine-based neonicotinoids much more toxic than previously realized.

Dutch researcher Dr. Henk Tennekes, with Dr. Francisco Sanchez-Bayo of Australia, have shown this in a new article in the Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology: "Time-Dependent Toxicity of Neonicotinoids and Other Toxicants: Implications for a New Approach to Risk Assessment" that is an open-access research article downloadable with the link shown above. I corresponded with Dr. Tennekes, who summarized his deep concerns:

"By Dr. Henk Tennekes

AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER THAT WILL AFFECT US ALL

A Spring Without Bees

Michael Schacker's book A Spring Without Bees has influenced a large body of people around the world to help with the global honeybee situation - and the entire web of life for which it is a bellwether. This book was highly influential and helpful in our work producing our film Nicotine Bees.
 
For anyone interested in this subject, this is the best starting point - the product of enormous research effort. 
 

Prosecutor Charges Bayer+Syngenta Over Honey Bee Die-Off

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on November 13, 2011 - 02:45

Three related events have recently heightened the honeybee issue:

First: Prosecutors in Italy have charged Bayer CropScience and Syngenta - both manufacturers of clothianidin - in honeybee deaths:

Fantastic report by Dan Rather on the Honey Bee dieoff and links to pesticides

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on September 25, 2011 - 15:25

Respected US journalist Dan Rather has produced a new video segment on the dieoff of the honey bees - and the links to pesticides:

http://vimeo.com/29419200

And he has blogged about this important story on The Huffington Post at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-rather/honeybees-pesticides-food-chain...

By Dan Rather

There have been numerous reports, including on our program, Dan Rather Reports, about the decline of the honeybee. They've been dying off in huge numbers. The cause has been lumped under a title called "Colony Collapse Disorder" or CCD.

Download Leaked USEPA Report on Unreported Dangers of Bee-Killer Clothianidin

Submitted by Pierre Terre on January 18, 2011 - 14:31

Recently, an important USEPA internal document was leaked regarding the previously undisclosed toxicity of the nicotine pesticide clothianidin ('officially' disclosed - there have been lots of reports disclosing this problem outside of the USEPA). The report's authors suggested that:

Location: 
USEPA Headquarters Washington, DC
United States
38° 53' 42.4032" N, 77° 2' 10.9176" W
See map: Google Maps

Location

USEPA Headquarters Washington, DC
United States
38° 53' 42.4032" N, 77° 2' 10.9176" W
See map: Google Maps
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