Neonicotinoid : the toxicity of pesticides killer bee confirmed

Ratikova/epictura

Published the 02.10.2017 at 18h23

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Keywords :

pesticideabeillepollution

The doubt is not allowed any more. Neonicotinoids, the pesticides known for their role in the endangerment of bee populations, have a recognized toxic effects at very low doses. This conclusion comes from the second edition of the most extensive review of the literature devoted to the impact of pesticides on biodiversity and ecosystems. Over 500 studies conducted since 2014 have been screened, including some from the pesticide industry. This work will be published in the next edition of ‘ Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

The review of literature, conduct the TFSP (The Task Force on Systemic Pesticides, an international group of scientists, shows the major impact of these pesticides, including fipronil, involved in a recent scandal of contamination of eggs for human consumption.

Significant threat

These pesticides are soluble in water and very persistent, they do not degrade in the soil, explain the authors. Results in prolonged and chronic in the environment on land and in water. The intensive use and the routine of neonicotinoids in agriculture is causing extensive environmental contamination and a significant threat to biodiversity, the authors conclude.

In fact, the neonicotinoids, which were introduced since the 1990s, have become the type of insecticide most frequently used in the world. The uses also include the treatment of seeds and soil, the foliar spray and the product to treat the lawn. Neonicotinoids are also used in forests and to treat the pets.

Three scientific papers have been published. The first looks at data relating to the mode of action, metabolism, toxicity, and environmental contamination related to the neonicotinoids and fipronil. The second focuses on the lethal effects of neonicotinoids and friponil on organisms and biodiversity. The last is devoted to the effectiveness of these pesticides in agriculture and to alternative methods.

Little effective

However, according to these studies, only a small portion of these pesticides reached the objective assigned to these substances. Clearly, most are doing more harm than good, because they cause damage to organizations that are not, at base, targeted by the products. The work shows as well that not only do these pesticides have a questionable effectiveness, but that in addition they degrade the quality of the soil threaten biodiversity, by contaminating the water, air, and food.

The authors acknowledge the initiative of France, which has banned these pesticides, and call on States to do the same, in order to protect human populations, biodiversity and the environment.