Latest News...
- Sunday, April 25, 2021
Invertebrates and Plants Face Increasing Threat from Pesticide Use, Despite Declining Chemical Use Patterns
pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, organophosphates, glyphosate
Pesticide use threatens aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates and plants more than ever, despite declining chemical use and implementation of genetically engineered (GE) crops in the U.S., according to a University Koblenz-Landau, Germany study.' Although the new generation of pesticides (e.g., neonicotinoids, pyrethroids) pesticides are more target-specific, requiring lower chemical concentrations for effectiveness, they have over double the toxic effects on invertebrates, like pollinators....'The study results find a decrease in total pesticide amounts by volume on U.S. farms by 40 percent over the last 25 years. Although bird and mammal toxicity decreases with a reduction in pesticide use (95 percent), invertebrates experience higher toxicity levels. Pyrethroid insecticides cause toxicity to double among aquatic invertebrates. Neonicotinoid insecticides present double the risk to terrestrial invertebrates. Overall, pesticide toxicity for terrestrial plants is highest regardless of whether fields are conventional, non-GE, or GE
filed under wildlife
- Sunday, April 25, 2021
Toxic Pesticides Are Polluting Over Half of Arable Land, Reinforcing Need for Global Organic Transition
world study
(Beyond Pesticides, April 7, 2021) 'Toxic pesticides are putting more than half of the Earth’s farmland at risk of pesticide pollution that contaminates water, harms biodiversity, and ultimately undermines food security, according to research published in Nature Geosciences last month. A pesticide was deemed to put a location at risk if the predicted environmental concentration of the pesticide was expected to be above the no-effect concentration for ecotoxicological harm. The high risk designation was noted when expected environmental concentrations were more than three orders of magnitude (1,000x) higher than the no-effect concentration. Scientists determined that 75% of global agricultural land was at risk, with 31% at high risk. Considering the additive effects of pesticide use, researchers found that 64% of ag land was at risk from more than one of the 92 pesticide active ingredients evaluated. Shockingly, 21% of farmland is at risk by more than 10 pesticides.'
filed under Pesticides in Soils
- Sunday, April 25, 2021
No Pollinator is Safe — New Evidence of Neonicotinoids Harming Wild, Ground Nesting Bees
“No Pollinator is Safe” — New Evidence of Neonicotinoids Harming Wild, Ground Nesting Bees
(Beyond Pesticides, April 13, 2021) A new study is making it increasingly clear that current laws are not protecting wild, ground nesting bees from the hazards of neonicotinoid insecticides.... Blue Orchard Mason Bees (Osima spp) are at particular risk from pesticide-contaminated soil they use to create their nest.
filed under wildlife/insects and neonicotinoids
- Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Living Within 2.5 Miles of Chemical Farming Increases Risk of Childhood Brain Tumors
California study
Living Within 2.5 Miles of Chemical Farming Increases Risk of Childhood Brain Tumors
(Beyond Pesticides, April 6, 2021) Pregnant women living within 2.5 miles of agricultural pesticide applications have an increased risk that their child will develop central nervous system (CNS) tumors, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Research by a team at University of California, Los Angeles. The results are particularly concerning as it reveals that individuals do not have to be in close contact with pesticides for risky, health-harming exposures to occur. For astrocytoma tumors, the use of the pesticides bromacil, thiophanate-methyl, triforine, and kresoxim-methyl increased risk of tumor development. Medulloblastoma was associated with the use of chlorothalonil, propiconazole, dimethoate, and linuron. Development of ependymoma was linked to nearby use of thiophanate-methyl. In sum, the pesticides chlorthalonil, bromacil, thiophanate-methyl, triforine, kresoxim-methyl, propiconazole, dimethoate, and linuron were all linked to elevated rates of a CNS tumor.
SNAP Comment: California is one of the only locations where such a study can be performed because they keep pesticide use data. In Saskatchewan, we don't even have pesticide sales data since 2003! The transition from farmland to residential is equally abrupt in SK. As of 20 April 2021, the number of registered products of the pesticides quoted above are registered by the PMRA: Linuron 4 (herbicide) (annual weeds in crops); bromacil, 6 (herbicide); thiophanate-methyl,(fungicide) 13. included uses for seed potatoes ((not an extensive search of uses); Triforine,2 (fungicide) for blueberries, other berries and fruit); kresoxim-methyl 2 (fungicide) for pear scab and powdery mildew; chlorothalonil,38 labels (fungicide) formarket gardens, corn and fruit, golf courses, ornamentals and aerial applications (not an extensive search of uses); propiconazole,65 labels (fungicide) turf, golf courses. Christmas tree plantations, crops, market gardens (not an extensive search of uses); dimethoate (Cygon) 6 labels (systemic insecticide) flowers, vegetables, field crops, ornamental trees (not an extensive search of uses)
filed under children, hazads of living near fields, and cancer /links between individual chemicals....
- Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Roundup Shown to Kill Bees—But Not How You Might Expect
Roundup Shown to Kill Bees—But Not How You Might Expect
(Beyond Pesticides, April 20, 2021) 'Roundup products manufactured by Bayer-Monsanto kill exposed bumblebees at high rates, according to a new study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, which points to undisclosed inert ingredients (those that typically make up a majority of the product formulation) as the primary culprit.
Bumblebees sprayed with consumer use Roundup Ready-To-Use (contains glyphosate) experienced a shocking 94% mortality. Subsequent experiments were conducted at lower application rates for that product, and significant mortality was seen for the 1:1 dilution (98% mortality) as well as the 1:3 dilution rate (78% mortality). The agricultural use Roundup Proactive (contains glyphosate) saw lower rates of death at 30%. Weedol, a glyphosate-based consumer product, displayed a mortality rate (6%) similar to the unexposed control group of bumblebees (4%). However, Roundup Speed Ultra' (containing acetic acid and no glyphosate) 'was found to kill 96% of exposed pollinators.'.
SNAP Comment: Interesting that the UK formulation containing acetic acid andno glyphosate was so toxic as this is considered an alternative product.
filed under inerts/formulants and wildlife/insects
- Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Pesticides Are More Widespread in Both Conventional and Organic Agricultural Soils than Previously Thought
Swiss study
(Beyond Pesticides, April 1, 2021) 'A legacy of toxic pesticide use in agriculture is showing up as residues on organic farms, emphasizing the threat of a history of weak regulatory standards that has left farmland poisoned and the urgent need to transition to organic. A study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, documents the findings of pesticide residues on organic farmland and shows a decrease in residues after transition, with lingering effects for decades.' Researchers studied residues of 46 current pesticides. Conventional soils had 9 times higher pesticide contamination and the longer land was organic, the lower the residue. These pesticide residues affect soil organisms and consequently soil processes and functions. More studies are needed.
filed under pesticides in soils
- Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Hazardous Pesticide Breakdown Chemicals Found in Streams Nationwide, Raising Health Concerns
US study
Hazardous Pesticide Breakdown Chemicals Found in Streams Nationwide, Raising Health Concerns (Beyond Pesticides, March 31, 2021) Pesticide breakdown products are just as ubiquitous as their parent compounds in urban streams throughout the United States, according to research conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and published in Environmental Science and Technology. Herbicide metabolites were detected more frequently than insecticides and fungicides, but one problematic insecticide metabolite alone, fipronil sulfone (breakdown of the active ingredient fipronil), has the potential to significantly increase the toxicity of a steam to aquatic organisms. With fipronil sulfone detected in 20% of sampled streams – more frequently than its parent compound—there are significant implications for the health of U.S. waterways. SNAP Comment: A PMRA label search found 0 fipronil products registered in Canada.
filed under water
- Monday, April 19, 2021
City of Regina Pests and Wildlife page
What the city does and what you can do
City of Regina Pests and Wildlife page
Learn about invasive pests and how to keep them under control without compromising the health of our ecosystems. Learn what the city does and what you can do for many issues.
Regina does not have a pesticide bylaw but these efforts are a step in the right direction.
filed under Alternatives
- Monday, April 19, 2021
Stop the Spray groups in Canada working to ban glyphosate in forestry
Stop the Spray Canada Facebood group _ members only
Stop the Spray Alberta Facebood group _ members only
Stop the Spray BC Facebood group _ members only
Stop Spraying in New Brunswick Facebood group _ members only
Stop Spraying and Clear-Cutting Nova Scotia (SSACCNS) Facebood group _ members only
Stop the Spray Ontario Facebood group _ members only They have a petition to sign “Ontario Legislative Assembly: Stop the use of non-essential chemical herbicides in Ontario's public forests ...”.
From what I gather, Quebec and Saskatchewan do not currently allow forestry companies leasing provincial Crown land to spray herbicides on the forest.
Other uses of pesticides in Canadian forests
- In addition to forest companies, many provincial department of highways spray road edges to maintain visibility, railroads spray rail beds for weeds, and power companies spray under power lines. If you become aware of other uses, let SNAP know.
- Tree seedlings planted by tree planters also generally seem to be treated, likely with fungicide or insecticides as many tree planters reported to me. I needmore details about this use.
- At lest Saskatchewan sprays when needed for insects such as Spruce Budworm and Tent Caterpillars. Btk is an acceptable natural insecticide for organic agriculture and is effective for both. It has generally replaced much more toxic insecticides such as DDT and fenitrothion. Each province would have different rules about this.
filed under forestry/Canada
- Friday, April 16, 2021
Over 100 Chemicals Detectable in Pregnant Women, Including 98 “New” or Unknown Compounds
Over 100 Chemicals Detectable in Pregnant Women, Including 98 “New” or Unknown Compounds
(Beyond Pesticides, March 25, 2021) 'A new University of California San Francisco (UCSF) study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, finds over 100 chemicals present in U.S. pregnant women’s blood and umbilical cord samples. This discovery ignites concerns over prenatal exposure to chemicals from consumer and industrial products and sources. Furthermore, 89 percent of these chemical contaminants are unknown sources and uses, lacking adequate information, or are not previously detectable in humans. This discovery ignites concerns over prenatal exposure to chemicals from consumer and industrial products and sources.
The study detects 109 chemicals within blood samples of mothers and newborns, including pesticides, plasticizers, compounds in cosmetics and consumer products, pharmaceuticals, flame retardants, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds. Of the 109 chemicals, 55 lack preceding reports on their presence in humans, and 42 chemical compounds have little to no information regarding chemical classification, use, and source of contamination.'
filed under children