[Pollinator] Modern Insecticides' Devastating Effects

[Ladadams at aol.com]

Sent from Mary Clock Rust
 



http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/42009

From: David  A Gabel, ENN
Published November 16, 2010 09:30 AM
Modern Insecticides'  Devastating Effects
(Embedded image moved to file:  pic13559.jpg)



Like DDT before it, a new class of insecticides  known as neonicotinoids
is believed to be causing drastic population declines  in bird species.
It is so effective at killing insects, that it has deprived  birds of
their basic food. Some scientists also believe they are behind  the
decline in bee populations in Europe and the United States known  as
honey-bee Colony Collapse Disorder.


Neonicotinoids, which are  part of the nicotine family, are essentially
glued to plant seeds, and  infiltrate the entire plant. Any bug that eats
the plant is immediately  infected. The toxin attacks the central nervous
system and causes a quick  death. It is much less toxic to other animals
because the chemical blocks a  specific neural pathway found more
commonly in insects.


Henk  Tennekes, researcher at the Experimental Toxicology Services in
Zutphen, the  Netherlands, has linked the use of neonicotinoids to
declines in bird  populations in his recent book, The Systemic
Insecticides: A Disaster in the  Making. Tennekes said, "The evidence
shows that the bird species suffering  massive declines since the 1990s
rely on insects for their diet." It is also  accused of causing the
alarming decline in bee populations. Researchers have  found that the
chemical negatively affects the bee's navigational ability  which in
turn, causes the bees to neglect feeding and caring for eggs and  larvae.


However, the true cause of Colony Collapse Disorder is not  fully
understood. Other possible factors include Varroa mites,  insect
diseases, malnutrition, genetically modified crops, and even cell  phone
radiation. Nevertheless, countries like Germany and France have  strictly
limited the use of neonicotinoids. In Germany, it is believe that  the
glue did not sufficiently hold the chemical to the seeds of  agricultural
crops. The chemical could then drift into the environment where  it
affected bees.


The effectiveness of this pesticide has  certainly taken a toll on
insects, but has taken a much more noticeable toll  on birds. In Britain,
the house sparrow population has declined by 68 percent  since 1977.
Since 1994, the common swift population has shrunk by 41 percent  and the
starling by 26 percent. Other birds affected include the  spotted
flycatcher, wood warbler, snipe, and song  thrush.


Neonicotinoids are used on a level far lower than DDT was  used back in
its time, but since it is so efficient at killing insects, it is  having
the same effect. For that reason, it is loved by farmers in  protecting
their crops. The chemical also makes the plants more resistant  to
drought, low pH levels, heat stress, and viral infections.


More  research is needed to conclusively link neonicotinoids to avian
declines.  Regardless, some European countries have taken small steps to
limit its use.  However, Henk Tennekes believes that a global ban is the
only solution.  "Neonicotinoids act like chemical carcinogens, for which
there are no safe  levels of exposure. The message is that we must act
quickly and ban these  compounds, to avoid a catastrophe."


For more information:  http://www.disasterinthemaking.com/




Laurie Davies Adams
Executive Director
Pollinator  Partnership
P 415 362 1137
F 415 362 3070
423 Washington Street, 5th  Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
_www.pollinator.org_ (http://www.pollinator.org/) 
_www.nappc.org_ (http://www.nappc.org/) 
LDA at pollinator.org  

Take Action for Pollinators at _www.pollinator.org_ 
(http://www.pollinator.org/)  
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sonic.net/pipermail/pollinator/attachments/20101117/c68fe680/attachment.html>