Posted by Barbara Dean Schacker for Michael

Imidacloprid: Long-term risks undervalued

Best-selling pesticide worldwide / New study published in Toxicology / Substance linked with bee deaths in various countries / Ban demanded

For many years environmental groups and beekeepers´ organizations have been pushing for a ban on neonicotinoid pesticides which are linked to bee decline across the world. In a recent study, The toxicity of neonicotinoid insecticides to arthropods is reinforced by exposure time, the Dutch toxicologist Henk Tennekes demonstrates that the long-term risks associated with the insecticides imidacloprid and thiacloprid are far greater than hitherto thought. This could actually explain worldwide bee decline. The study was published on the 23rd of July in the journal Toxicology (online).

Dr. Henk Tennekes on his results: “The risks of the neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid and thiacloprid to arthropods in water and soil may be seriously underestimated. The acceptable limits are based mainly on short-term tests. If long-term studies were to be carried out, far lower concentrations may turn out to be hazardous. This explains why minute quantities of imidacloprid may induce bee decline in the long run.” Because of their high persistence significant quantities of neonicotinoids may remain in the soil for several years. Consequently, untreated plants growing on soil previously exposed to imidacloprid may take up the substance via their roots and become hazardous for bees.

Henk Tennekes is also concerned about the high level of surface water contamination with relatively stable agrochemicals. The Dutch water boards have detected imidacloprid levels of up to 320 microgram per liter (µg/l). The European Plant Protection Products Directive (91/414/EEC) requires that there is not an unacceptable impact on non-target organisms in the aquatic and terrestrial environment and that the annual average concentration of an active substance or relevant metabolite does not exceed 0.1 microgram per liter in any ground water.

Imidacloprid is the most widely used insecticide in the world and Bayer´s best-selling pesticide (2009 sales: €606 million). The substance is often used as seed-dressing, especially for maize, sunflower and rapeseed. The beginning of the marketing of imidacloprid coincided with the occurrence of large bee deaths, first in France, later on also in many other European countries, Canada, the US and Brazil.

After huge bee mortality in Germany in 2008 which was shown to be caused by neonicotinoid pesticides the Coalition against Bayer Dangers accused the Bayer management of downplaying the risks of imidacloprid, submitting deficient studies to authorities and thereby accepting huge losses of honey bees in many parts of the world. At the same time, German authorities imposed a ban on the use of imidacloprid and its successor product, clothianidin, on maize. Italy and Slovenia imposed a similar ban.

In France imidacloprid has been banned as a seed dressing for sunflowers (since 1999) and maize (since 2004). In 2003 the Comité Scientifique et Technique, convened by the French government, declared that the treatment of seeds with imidacloprid leads to “significant risks for bees”. The consumption of contaminated pollen can cause an increased mortality of care-taking-bees. When individual bees were exposed to sublethal doses their foraging activity decreased and they became disorientated, which researchers concluded “can in the course of time damage the entire colony”. Clothianidin was never approved in France.

we gladly send you a copy of the study

contact Dr. Henk Tennekes: info@toxicology.nl, Tel. +31 575 545500

more information:

Bulletin of Insectology (2010): The puzzle of honey bee losses
Open Letter to the European Union
Campaign for total ban of neonicotinoid pesticides
Charge against Bayer Board introduced
Coalition against BAYER Dangers (Germany)
www.CBGnetwork.org
CBGnetwork@aol.com
Fax: (+49) 211-333 940 Tel: (+49) 211-333 911

Wild pollinators need protection too

Organic Lawn and Garden Pest Control
Helpful page from East Texas Landscaping Ways to deter ticks are also noted on this page.

Alternatives to Fipronil-based flea and tick solutions for pets
Solutions from PAW-Rescue.org Fipronil is a neonicotinoid discussed in the book, A Spring Without Bees. It is dangerous to humans, especially young children and unborn children.

As not enough has been done to stop the use of neonicotinic pesticides like IMD and clothianidin as well as implementing natural solutions to deal with other causes and all other factors of honeybee die-off, it looks like another “Spring Without Bees”. We have so much work to do this year!

California and the west coast are reporting heavy losses. In addition, the UK is having a huge problem with CCD. However, the Northeast United States is reporting fewer hive losses this spring than expected. We are located in Willow, New York and worked hard to build a network in our region and get the information out last year. Is this because of the book and the work we did in the Northeast last year? It is hard to say for sure, but we think so!

We have several regional events coming up in May to celebrate the paperback edition. Sign up for our email list if you would like to get the newsletter and calendar of events. I can also send you a beautiful flyer to post in bookstores or libraries if you ask for it. We hope you’ll take a vacation to the Catskills and come to one of these events. Michael Schacker has recovered enough to make short trips and might be able to attend some of the events. We would love to meet you!

This is going to be a critical year for saving the bees. We must reach out to all areas of the world and send messages to beekeepers, libraries, bookstores, agricultural departments, university research projects and the government at all levels. We’ve got to get the word out. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure the paperback edition of “A Spring Without Bees” is a success this year! For those interested, free review copies are available from the publisher. Contact: Bob Sembiante at robert.sembiante@globepequot.com 203-458-4555 These are for anyone wanting to write an article or review or do some other kind of project about the book.

Thanks for all your hard work and support everyone!
–Barbara, PlanBEECentral April 2009