• Pesticide manufacturers' own tests reveal serious harm to honeybees
    7 replies, posted
[QUOTE]Bayer and Syngenta criticised for secrecy after unpublished research obtained under freedom of information law linked high doses of their products to damage to the health of bee colonies Unpublished field trials by pesticide manufacturers show their products cause serious harm to honeybees at high levels, leading to calls from senior scientists for the companies to end the secrecy which cloaks much of their research. The research, conducted by Syngenta and Bayer on their neonicotinoid insecticides, were submitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency and obtained by Greenpeace after a freedom of information request. Neonicotinoids are the world’s most widely used insecticides and there is clear scientific evidence that they harm bees at the levels found in fields, though only a little to date showing the pesticides harm the overall performance of colonies. Neonicotinoids were banned from use on flowering crops in the EU in 2013, despite UK opposition. Bees and other insects are vital for pollinating three-quarters of the world’s food crops but have been in significant decline, due to the loss of flower-rich habitats, disease and the use of pesticides. The newly revealed studies show Syngenta’s thiamethoxam and Bayer’s clothianidin seriously harmed colonies at high doses, but did not find significant effects below concentrations of 50 parts per billion (ppb) and 40ppb respectively. Such levels can sometimes be found in fields but concentrations are usually below 10ppb. However, scientists said all such research should be made public. “Given all the debate about this subject, it is hard to see why the companies don’t make these kinds of studies available,” said Prof Dave Goulson, at the University of Sussex. “It does seem a little shady to do this kind of field study - the very studies the companies say are the most important ones - and then not tell people what they find.” Prof Christian Krupke, at Purdue University in Indiana, said: “Bayer and Syngenta’s commitment to pollinator health should include publishing these data. This work presents a rich dataset that could greatly benefit the many publicly funded scientists examining the issue worldwide, including avoiding costly and unnecessary duplication of research.”[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]Source: [url]https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/22/pesticide-manufacturers-own-tests-reveal-serious-harm-to-honeybees[/url][/QUOTE]
great, as if the looming bee crisis wasn't bad enough as it is
An important quote: [quote]The newly revealed studies show Syngenta’s thiamethoxam and Bayer’s clothianidin seriously harmed colonies at high doses, but did not find significant effects below concentrations of 50 parts per billion (ppb) and 40ppb respectively. Such levels can sometimes be found in fields but concentrations are usually below 10ppb.[/quote] More Greenpeace scaremongering. They lost their credibility a long time ago. I would like to see the paper Greenpeace FOI'ed, rather than get it second-hand from ideologically driven groups.
So basically people being stupid and not using shit at the right dosages, thus fucking over bees. If GMO means phasing out all these poisons then count me in (still fuck Monsanto), as long as GMOs aren't the reason bees are getting fucked.
[QUOTE=Megadave;51267911]So basically people being stupid and not using shit at the right dosages, thus fucking over bees. If GMO means phasing out all these poisons then count me in (still fuck Monsanto), as long as GMOs aren't the reason bees are getting fucked.[/QUOTE] It depends on what the GMO changes. There are a few that are modified so you can use [I]more or additional[/I] (usually far from harmless) herbicides and/or pesticides without killing the plants too.
[QUOTE=download;51267900]An important quote: [QUOTE]The newly revealed studies show Syngenta’s thiamethoxam and Bayer’s clothianidin seriously harmed colonies at high doses, but did not find significant effects below concentrations of 50 parts per billion (ppb) and 40ppb respectively. Such levels can sometimes be found in fields but concentrations are usually below 10ppb.[/QUOTE] More Greenpeace scaremongering. They lost their credibility a long time ago. I would like to see the paper Greenpeace FOI'ed, rather than get it second-hand from ideologically driven groups.[/QUOTE] Wholeheartedly agree. We know there is a problem with diminishing numbers of pollinating bee's but hijacking that issue to further a cause through media bias is [I]definitely[/I] not the approach.
[QUOTE=download;51267900]An important quote: More Greenpeace scaremongering. They lost their credibility a long time ago. I would like to see the paper Greenpeace FOI'ed, rather than get it second-hand from ideologically driven groups.[/QUOTE] Had to do a double-take when I read that part. It almost completely contradicts the entire headline. Holy Sensationalism Guardian.
[QUOTE=download;51267900]An important quote: More Greenpeace scaremongering. They lost their credibility a long time ago. I would like to see the paper Greenpeace FOI'ed, rather than get it second-hand from ideologically driven groups.[/QUOTE] Actually, even in smaller doses it is dangerous. For one, these pesticides in small amounts, may not kill the bee, but make it forget how to navigate, so the affected bees get lost and die. The hive literally loses its workers over time before it runs out and dies. Also, bees can carry small amounts of pesticides back to their hive. It builds up and eventually kills the colony. Remember, even though these studies were surpressed, in the end of the day they were funded by special intrest groups, these studies will still have biases making themselves look better
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