Archives for 2026
- Monday, September 14, 2026
The WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard and Guidelines to Classification 2019
The WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard and Guidelines to Classifi cation 2019
LD50 for the rat (mg/kg body weight)
Class Oral Dermal
Ia Extremely hazardous < 5 < 50 Ib
1b Highly hazardous 5–50 50–200
II Moderately hazardous 50–2000 200–2000 III
III Slightly hazardous Over 2000 Over 2000U Unlikely to present acute hazard 5000 or higher
SNAP Comment. First thoughts: What strikes me on this table is that there is no respiratory exposure considered, and that it adds to the dermal when one runs into spray unless one wears a mask. Of course, I knew that pesticides are not regularly tested for this route but I find it a glaring omission in international standards intended somewhat to protect health.
Also, p8, whether the toxicity of a single ingredient should be used to extrapolate toxicity of a formulation.
Considering that active ingredients are generally either water or fat soluble and that they need to be both to penetrate living cells, the formulants in a formulation are added to fill up that 'deficiency' and make the product both water and fat soluble so it can penetrate any living cell. That basic principle makes it impossible in my view to 'extrapolate' toxicity of a formulation from a single product.SNAP also recognizes that the data for formulations toxicity is often not available.
see also WHO Guidance on chemicals and health (latest is 2024 version)
filed under Safety of Pesticides
- Monday, September 14, 2026
Saskatchewan 2026 GUIDE TO CROP PROTECTION
Saskatchewan 2026 GUIDE TO CROP PROTECTION lists all the pesticide formulations allowed for sale in Saskatchewan and their uses. Be warned, it is an extensive list! A new guide is produced every year. Also from the Government of Saskatchewan
filed under Pesticide Use and Sales/ Canada
- Monday, September 7, 2026
Almost half of the world s farmers are poisoned by pesticides every year
Almost half of the world's farmers are poisoned by pesticides every year (PANNA, September 2, 2026)
A new study published in Frontiers in Public Health?shows that over 400 million of the world’s farmers and farmworkers suffer from acute pesticide poisoning annually. Acute pesticide poisoning is any illness or health effect experienced a short time after exposure (for example, within 48 hours) Total fatalities around the world from unintended pesticide poisonings are estimated at around 11,000 deaths per year. This total excludes the 84 million children working in global agriculture who are even more vulnerable to toxic chemicals than adults, as well as rural families exposed through spray drift and environmental exposure. Farmers may also consume highly contaminated food... Furthermore, personal protective equipment is frequently too costly and impractical in hot climates. This study only looked at acute poisonings, not long-term chronic effects which are harder to measure.
filed under Pesticide Poisoning
- Monday, September 7, 2026
Robust Science on Transgenerational Health Effects Tied to Pesticide Exposure, Highlights Regulatory Gaps
Robust Science on Transgenerational Health Effects Tied to Pesticide Exposure, Highlights Regulatory Gaps (Beyond Pesticides, 5 June 2026)
...But reproduction is not the only domain affected. As the authors write, “The modified germline epigenome influences the epigenetic profiles of embryonic stem cells and will subsequently affect the epigenomes of all somatic cells in the next generations (emphasis added). This means that all tissues, not just reproductive organs, are influenced by that original exposure. In addition to ovarian, prostate, and testis pathologies, the researchers find sharp increases in kidney pathologies in both sexes between the first transgeneration and the 23rd. Sprague-Dawley rats are susceptible to kidney disease as they age, but these pathologies emerge at one year.
Dr. Skinner has also demonstrated epigenetic transgenerational effects of exposure to DDT, glyphosate, atrazine, dioxin, DEET, permethrin, methoxychlor, hydrocarbons and plastics-derived compounds.
filed under Health/Gene Function Changes
- Monday, September 7, 2026
EU Member States agree to ban flufenacet - PAN Europe calls for immediate action on all PFAS pesticides
EU Member States agree to ban flufenacet - PAN Europe calls for immediate action on all PFAS pesticides (PAN Europe, March 13, 2025) As of end of November 2025, flufenacet is no longer registered for sale in Canada but diflufenican is with 4 products.
filed under PFAs and herbicides
- Monday, September 7, 2026
Research in Ten European Countries Finds Pesticides Threaten Soil Health in Conventional and Organic Fields
Research in Ten European Countries Finds Pesticides Threaten Soil Health in Conventional and Organic Fields (Beyond Pesticides, 3 Septmber 2026)
The findings are published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research.
The study identifies measurable levels of numerous pesticides and mixtures of pesticides (including several fungicides, copper, and the glyphosate metabolite AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid) and their combined effect in adversely affecting soil microbiota, which “play a major role in ecosystem functioning,” according to the research team comprising scientific experts and state (national) agencies across the European Union.
Researchers show that organic and conventional fields both become exposed to pesticides, adversely affecting soil microbial life, including substances allowed in organic production—though far fewer than those allowed in conventional agriculture.
The findings support advocacy to stop pesticide use through a societal transition to organic practices...filed under Pesticides in soils p.2
- Monday, September 7, 2026
Diflufenican breaks down into TFA and must be banned
Diflufenican breaks down into TFA and must be banned (PAN Europe, April 23, 2026)
The case against diflufenican is now clear-cut. This #herbicide, widely applied on winter cereals across Europe, breaks down into #TFA, an ultra-persistent "forever chemical" that is accumulating in groundwater and polluting our drinking water.
Evidence shows that the (European) legal threshold for groundwater is breached by diflufenican under real-use conditions. The European Commission must immediately propose its non-renewal in accordance with EU law.SNAP Comment:: diflufenican was first registered in Canada on 22 February 2024 for use in soybeans and corn.
filed under herbicides and PFAs
- Friday, August 14, 2026
Dutch court: endocrine-disrupting pesticide needs to be banned
Dutch court: endocrine-disrupting pesticide needs to be banned (PAN europ, 12 August 2026)
The highest Dutch administrative court has ruled that the #pesticide formulation Pitcher containing the endocrine-disrupting substance fludioxonil needs to be banned as soon as possible. The verdict follows a landmark ruling from the EU Court of Justice in a case started by PAN Europe.
The Dutch court is very clear in its press release: “Pitcher contains an active substance (fludioxonil) that has endocrine-disrupting properties. Under European regulations, this active substance may only be used in closed systems or under other conditions that preclude contact with humans. As Pitcher is not used in this way, the Ctgb should not have authorised the product. The Ctgb must therefore ensure that Pitcher is withdrawn from the market as soon as possible.”SNAP comment: Fludioxonil: 51 (from 70) containing products currently registred in Canada. Used as a seed treatment, a foliar spray and a post-harvest dip to control fungal pathogens on a large number of crops. Endocrine disrupting, PFA, on the EU's more toxic pesticides list. Widely found on conventional strawberries in Europe. A quick check seems to indicate it i used for post-harvest potato and sweet potato treatment in Canada, but not registered for post-harvest strawberries.
fild under Fludioxonil and endocrine disruption/regulatory
- Thursday, August 13, 2026
EPA Promotes PFAS-Contaminated Sewage Sludge/Biosolids While Halting Regulatory Restrictions
US study
EPA Promotes PFAS-Contaminated Sewage Sludge/Biosolids While Halting Regulatory Restrictions
(Beyond Pesticides, August 3, 2026) A regulation proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with a comment period ending September 4, 2026, will allow sewage sludge, also called biosolids, fertilizer used in agriculture and other land management to contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
Contaminants in sewage sludge/biosolids have been widely recognized for decades, leading to regulations.The lawsuits against producers of sewage sludge fertilizer cite test results showing PFAS residues in the companies’ products and numerous scientific studies on the adverse effects of PFAS to public health, wildlife, and pollinators. EPA has published a list of 726 chemicals found in biosolids in the National Sewage Sludge Surveys (2022). This list does not include PFAS, which are emerging contaminants of biosolids although they publicly disclosed findings of PFAS in sewage sludge/biosolids in 2001 with the release of the agency’s National Sewage Sludge Survey.
filed under Sewage Sludge and PFAs p.2
- Thursday, August 13, 2026
Aquatic Ecosystems at Risk; Study Finds Declines in Macroinvertebrate Diversity with Pesticide Exposure
Chinese study
(Beyond Pesticides, July 22, 2026) ( Chinese Study) A study of aquatic macroinvertebrates, including insects in their nymph and larval stages, snails, worms, crayfish, and clams, finds that pesticide exposure leads to biodiversity declines. Published in Environment International, this research also finds that multiple stressors and chemical mixtures increase ecosystem effects.
Water samples were then analyzed for 49 commonly used and representative pesticides, including carbamates (CAs), neonicotinoids (NEOs), triazines (TRIs), and organophosphates (OPPs), and macroinvertebrates were identified. The results show that all “49 pesticides were detected, including 11 CAs, 9 NEOs, 14 OPPs, and 15 TRIs.”
Imidacloprid has the highest ecological risk level across both hydrological seasons.(dry and normal) Hexazinone, atrazine, and simazine also exhibit high risks, as they share a common mode of action by inhibiting “primary producers and thereby indirectly affecting food resources and oxygen supply for higher trophic levels, including macroinvertebrates.”
Simazine “may exert disproportionately strong ecological pressure relative to its measured concentrations.”SNAP Comment: There ar 94 Imidacloprid, 5 Hexazinone, 17 atrazine, and 4 simazine containing pesticide productscurrently registerd in Canada.
fild under aquatic organisms
- Thursday, August 13, 2026
Scientists in Austria found that a glyphosate based herbicide reduced earthworm reproduction by
Scientists in Austria found that a glyphosate based herbicide reduced earthworm reproduction by 56% in a greenhouse study (The Times of India, Aug 13, 2026)
The experiment involved two species with different ways of living in the soil: Lumbricus terrestris, which makes deeper vertical burrows and comes to the surface to feed, and Aporrectodea caliginosa which spends more of its time within the soil itself.
Eight weeks after planting, the vegetation in half of the mesocosms was treated with a lower-than-recommended dose of glyphosate-based herbicide. Herbicide treatment reduced earthworm casting activity by 46% as well as reproduction. Aporrectodea caliginosa was the species most affected.
There is no equivalent study on earthworms in treated agricultiral soils so it is hard to extrapolatethe results of this study.
SNAP Comment: Relvant to Canada as the 2 species of earthworms are found here although Aporrectodea caliginosa is a non-native species apparently not present in Saskatchewan.filed under Terrestrial invertebrates and glyphosate 2 p4
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Synergistic Effects Documented for Multiple Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bee Health
Synergistic Effects Documented for Multiple Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bee Health
(Beyond Pesticides, July 24, 2026) A study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials finds that the cumulative impact of the pyrethroid insecticide flumethrin and the triazole fungicide hexaconazole “induced an acute synergistic effect” in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Flumethrin is used in pest strip in hives to control mites. Hexaconazole was used in Canada as seed treatment.
- Flumethrin was obviously more acutely toxic to honeybees than hexaconazole.
- Flumethrin in combination with hexaconazole induced acute synergistic effect.
- SOD activity was distinctly changed in the mixture groups relative to individuals. (SOD is an important antioxidant defense in nearly all living cells exposed to oxygen)
- Expression levels of 4 genes in mixtures exhibited greater changes than individual chemicals. .
SNAP Comment: There are 0 (from 3) hexaconazole and 2 (from 2) flumethrin pesticide products currently registered in Canada.
filed under mixture effects and bee die-off p.2
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Literature Review Highlights Synergies Between Microplastics and Numerous Stressors, Including Pesticides
(Beyond Pesticides, July 29, 2026) In a literature review published in Chemosphere, researchers at UTRGV - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley identified thousands of studies published since 2012 that unpack how four environmental stressors (heatwaves, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and pathogenic diseases) interact with microplastics in real-world conditions, adversely affecting ecosystems.
“Most current research focuses on experiments with one or two stressors, leaving multi-stressor interactions poorly understood,” write the coauthors. “Future studies should emphasize multi-stressor experiments conducted under realistic environmental conditions to better reflect natural systems.”
The issue of microplastic contamination in organic food systems is a critical issue to Beyond Pesticides, including through advocacy in the Spring 2026 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting. One of the critical issues before the NOSB is plastic microencapsulated insect attractants with pear ester. The traps, which emit pear ester, are constructed mostly of plastic, but could be made of other materials. For that reason, advocates called on the NOSB and the organic sector to prohibit plastic microencapsulation of substances allowed in organic production. #environment #stressors #pesticides #microplastics #realworld #interactions #dailynewsfiled under Mixture Effects
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Study Shows Efficacy of Invasive Weed and Seed Bank Management in Organic System
Study Shows Efficacy of Invasive Weed and Seed Bank Management in Organic System
(Beyond Pesticides, August 7, 2026) Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) published research in European Journal of Agronomy identifying the importance of cover cropping systems within organically managed oats and reporting a successful reduction in weed pressures
Researchers conducted this field experiment study at the Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory in Mandan, North Dakota in a semiarid environment with sandy loam soils. The three-year transition period to organic fields was completed between 2016 and 2018, with organic oats planted on plots as the first “post-transition” crop. Findings include:
â†ªï¸ Perennials outcompete annual cover crop mixtures in terms of maximized benefits for weed management.
â†ªï¸ Weed seed banks reduced in most cover crop mixtures.
These findings build on continuous evidence borne out in the scientific research on the efficacy of organic agricultural practices that replace petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers with ecosystem-based practices.#organic #oats #covercrops #weed #pressures #usda
filed organics/farming
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Atrazine Weed Killer and Neonicotinoid Insecticide Top the List of Pesticides Found in National Waterways Study
US study
Atrazine Weed Killer and Neonicotinoid Insecticide Top the List of Pesticides Found in National Waterways Study
Three pesticides causing the highest risk in surface waters are the herbicides atrazine and metolachlor and the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid, according to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) review. Atrazine, classified as an endocrine disruptor and carcinogen by international bodies, has the highest number of exceedances.
The results come from a USGS water resources specialists published a study written by USGS water resources specialists and published in May in Environmental Science and Technology analyzing both temporal trends and acute and chronic events that exceed pesticide benchmarks for both aquatic and human life between 2013 and 2022 in the Continental United States (CONUS).Pesticides are nearly ubiquitous in U.S. water systems. The USGS study notes that a national sample of public supply groundwater wells finds at least one pesticide in 41% of the wells and, in an interview with KCUR 89.3 in Kansas City, the lead author expressed the opinion that the problem is much worse even than her data suggests, because the USGS’ National Water Quality Network (NWQN) sampling system is not comprehensive enough to catch the real picture. There are more than 3.5 million miles of rivers and streams in the U.S., and the NWQN has only 102 surface and 258 groundwater sampling locations.
The study assesses its findings based on benchmarks of allowed chemical exposure set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, levels of acceptable exposure set by EPA have been criticized for underlying scientific gaps in evaluating exposure to mixtures of pesticides and other chemical substances, synergistic effects, epigenetic and transgenerational impacts, and a range of adverse health outcomes such as endocrine disruption.
🎯 Nevertheless, after rigorous screening, the researchers end up with a dataset of more than 10,000 samples and nearly a million pesticide measurements—enough to develop a picture of pesticide concentrations in surface waters and the changes in their quantities over time.#USGS #waterways #atrazine #metolachlor #imidacloprid #pesticides #herbicides #neonic
SNAP Comment: There are 17 (from historically 66) atrazine, 43 (from 54) metolachlor, and 94 (from 138) imidacloprid pesticide products currently registerd in Canada
filed under Water
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Literature Review Captures Science on Need to Assess and Regulate Pesticide Mixtures for Adverse Effects
(Beyond Pesticides, August 5, 2026) In a review of over 60 experimental and epidemiological studies related to chronic, low-dose exposure to pesticide mixtures, a team of international researchers finds unreasonable adverse health effects that are not adequately captured in regulatory processes. Published in the Journal of Environmental Protection, the authors note that the focus on single compounds in conventional risk assessments ignores mixture toxicity and subsequent synergistic effects.
Through mechanisms of “oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, endocrine and immune dysregulation, DNA damage, and persistent epigenetic reprogramming,” the research documents how exposure to mixtures of pesticides can induce a wide range of health implications in humans.
Chemical exposure does not occur in isolation but rather as simultaneous exposure to a “toxic soup” of environmental contaminants. Many pesticide products also contain more than one active ingredient, while risk assessments analyze these compounds individually.
These results highlight current regulatory deficiencies that fail to incorporate mixture toxicity in cumulative risk assessments, further strengthening the need for sustainable agricultural and land management practices that protect public and environmental health.
#pesticides #mixtures #toxicity #synergies #publichealth #dailynewsfiled under info/mixture effects
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Honey Bees as Bioindicators; Study Finds Residues of Pesticides and Rare Earth Elements Threaten Health
Italian study
Honey Bees as Bioindicators; Study Finds Residues of Pesticides and Rare Earth Elements Threaten Health
A study published in Environmental Pollution identifies honey bees as bioindicators for residues of pesticides, heavy metals, and rare earth elements (REEs) that can cause adverse health effects to pollinators and other organisms. Università della CalabriaIn studying honey bees in Calabria, Italy, across two protected montane forests on the slopes of mountains in Sila National Park, as well as one suburban and one urban site, the researchers, in screening for 778 agrochemicals and 46 trace elements, identify site-specific accumulation patterns.
“Surprisingly, bees from the protected Natura 2000 site (S2) displayed the highest diversity of residues and concentrations of REEs, suggesting an interplay between lithogenic sources rocks, minerals, etc. and agricultural inputs,” the authors note. In finding pesticide, heavy metal, and REE residues in honey bees across the four sites, it highlights the anthropogenic pressures in terrestrial ecosystems and the complexities associated with exposure to mixtures, particularly for pollinators that provide crucial ecosystem services.
As the authors note, “Despite their historically presumed low bioavailability, emerging evidence indicates that REEs can accumulate in soils, plants, and invertebrates, raising concerns about their ecotoxicological impact and potential transfer along food chains.”
#pesticides #honeybees #bioindicators #ree #health #pollinators #italy #dailynewsfied under Monitoring Pesticides
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Pesticide Effects on Enzymes, Oxidative Stress, and Cell Damage in Newborns and Mothers, Study Finds
Pesticide Effects on Enzymes, Oxidative Stress, and Cell Damage in Newborns and Mothers, Study Finds
(Beyond Pesticides, July 28, 2026) In a study published in Science of The Total Environment, researchers at the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil link pesticide exposure during pregnancy, particularly involving organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, with oxidative stress, which causes cell damage, and adverse health effects in both mothers and their newborns.
In analyzing enzyme activity and biomarkers in samples of maternal peripheral (circulating) blood and umbilical cord blood from mother and newborn pairs, the data shows altered levels in both.
“The findings suggest relevant biochemical alterations in the maternal–newborn dyad, involving cholinesterase inhibition and oxidative imbalance,” the authors state. Notably, the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is inhibited in 96% of umbilical cord blood samples and the oxidative stress biomarker 8-OHGua is elevated in both mothers and newborns, indicating oxidative DNA damage.
While many studies report associations between environmental pesticide exposure during pregnancy and alterations in fetal development, there are still many data gaps regarding indirect biomarkers of chronic pesticide exposure in pregnant women and newborns that this study addresses.
#pesticide #exposure #oxidativestress #enzymes #maternal #newborn #health #dailynewsfiled under children 2 and insecticides
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026
The more pesticides, the fewer birds
The more pesticides, the fewer birds (PAN Europe, 15 April 2026)
'A recent French study shows that common birds are far less abundant in agricultural areas where more pesticides are purchased. Negative effects were found for over 84% of the species studied. A reduction in pesticides would be a turning point in halting biodiversity loss, according to the scientists. But instead of addressing this, the EU is paving the way to keep harmful pesticides on the market indefinitely.
Researchers from the National Museum of Natural History in France (MNHN) compared local sales in France of 242 pesticide active substances with citizen-science data on 64 bird species. They found negative effects for more than 84% of the species studied. This negative relationship was significant for 25 species, with only one species displaying a significantly positive correlation between abundance and pesticide quantities. 1
“That is to say the more pesticides are sold, the fewer birds there are,” Anne-Christine Monnet, co-author of the study, explained to AFP. "We can conclude now that a reduction in pesticide use is necessary to mitigate current losses of agricultural biodiversity," the researchers stated. 2
According to the study, the impact of pesticides on birds can be either direct or indirect. Direct exposure occurs when granivorous birds ingest treated seeds or when insectivorous birds, raptors, or scavengers consume contaminated prey. On the other hand, indirect effects come from the depletion of food sources.'SNAP Comment: I don't know if other provinces have sales per area, but, in SK, we don't even have a clue of what the current pesticide sales are for the province. Hard to do similar studies here.....
filed under Wildlife section/birds 2
- Thursday, August 6, 2026
A 10-year experimental study in France shows the potential of pesticide-free agricultural production
A 10-year experimental study in France shows the potential of pesticide-free agricultural production (INRAE, the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, 19 February 2026) It is challenging one of the biggest assumptions in modern agriculture, that modern agriculture is inevitably dependent on pesticides.
Growing crops without pesticides is technically and economically feasible under certain conditions. Creating such production systems involves diversifying crop rotations, developing appropriate marketing channels, and determining the economic value of the products from these systems.
While some pesticide-free systems produced lower yields than conventional farms, others matched them. Some even performed better. At one site, pesticide-free wheat outperformed conventionally grown wheat. In other years, crops such as durum wheat, triticale, rapeseed, sugar beet, and potatoes reached yields comparable to conventional production.
The economic results were equally striking. :across 80% of the monitored arable systems, estimated farm income was two, three, or more times France's national minimum wage, suggesting that pesticide-free farming can also be financially viable under certain conditions.... it demonstrates that carefully designed agroecological systems can successfully produce competitive yields without relying on synthetic pesticides in many situations.
They suggest that, with the right farming practices, healthy harvests can sometimes be achieved by working more closely with nature instead of relying primarily on chemical inputs.filed under organics/farming. Could also be under economy....
- Sunday, August 2, 2026
Pesticide Exposure Linked to Thyroid Dysfunction and Thyroid Cancer, Literature Review Finds
Literature Review
Pesticide Exposure Linked to Thyroid Dysfunction and Thyroid Cancer, Literature Review Finds (Beyond Pesticides, July 21, 2026
Literature Review According to the American Thyroid Association, an estimated 20 million Americans currently have some form of thyroid disease, with more than 12% of the U.S. population expected to develop a condition during their lifetime.
filed under health/cancer/ links2
- Sunday, August 2, 2026
Documented Contamination of Pesticides in Infant Formula Poses Short-Term and Long-Term Health Risks
systematic review of research
Documented Contamination of Pesticides in Infant Formula Poses Short-Term and Long-Term Health Risks (Beyond Pesticides, July 7, 2026)
filed under children 2
- Sunday, August 2, 2026
More Studies Link Breast Cancer to Pesticide Exposure, Despite U.S. Supreme Court Safety Proclamation
More Studies Link Breast Cancer to Pesticide Exposure, Despite U.S. Supreme Court Safety Proclamation (Beyond Pesticides, July 8, 2026)
...the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes “acceptable” rates of disease for individual chemicals or chemical families, but does not evaluate patterns of disease linked to multiple chemical exposure. A study reported at a scientific meeting by a group of Indian researchers examined breast cancer tissues for pesticide residues, finding 49 distinct organophosphate residues in both tumor tissue and surrounding adipose tissue. Also implicated are glyphosate, atrazine and pyrethrins.
The researchers found a robust relationship between organic fruit and vegetable consumption and reduced risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. For each 100 grams per day of organic foods substituted for non-organic, there was a 10% reduction of risk.
filed under health/cancer / links 2
- Sunday, August 2, 2026
Sea Anemone Critical to Marine Ecosystem Stability Undermined by Pesticide Exposur
Sea Anemone Critical to Marine Ecosystem Stability Undermined by Pesticide Exposure
(Beyond Pesticides, July 15, 2026) Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey and Portland and Oregon State Universities, in a study reported in Marine Pollution Bulletin, find that pesticide exposure, including the herbicide atrazine and fungicide carbendazim, found in combination with the herbicide diuron in the environment, (Anthopleura elegantissima), an important organism in the marine environment.
iled under Aquatic organisms
- Sunday, August 2, 2026
Wristband study proves: farmers and citizens exposed to highly toxic pesticides
Wristband study proves: farmers and citizens exposed to highly toxic pesticides PAN Europe(pane), July 16, 2026
A large-scale study assessed the level of exposure to pesticides, using wristbands worn by farmers and citizens living close to fields. The results show the important exposure to pesticides via pathways other than food. These are not included in the current risk assessment. A total of 173 pesticides were detected, with a median 1 of 20 different ones per sample. For conventional farmers, it was even worse, with a median of 36. Many of these pesticides should have been banned long ago. These confronting results illustrate that the protection against pesticides urgently needs to be improved, instead of weakened as proposed by the European Commission in their Omnibus proposal.
Citizens are exposed to pesticides through multiple routes. Risk assessment focuses mostly on exposure through food, while long-term exposure through inhalation and skin absorption is neglected. This while studies and researchers indicate that non-dietary exposure might be as important, or could be even more important. This study confirms that pesticides are widespread in our environment, and that farmers and citizens living near fields are particularly exposed
SNAP Comment: Most of the pesticides found are still or have been registered in Canada. I asked them 2 questions: Does the wristband only measure what is in the air, or does it also absorb what might be sweated out ? and Is a ban in Europe only a sale ban or use ban? In Canada, a ban is only for sale. Studies on pesticide residues in glaciers have shown that it takes 10 years after a ban before deposited levels stat decreasing. That would explain the presence of so many banned pesticides in the wristbands.filed under exposure to pesticides / p2
- Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Why is the Carney government cozying up to pesticide companies?
New powers in Bill C-30 would allow Ottawa to override scientific decisions on pesticides in the name of food security
Why is the Carney government cozying up to pesticide companies?
New powers in Bill C-30 would allow Ottawa to override scientific decisions on pesticides in the name of ‘food security’ (Sarah Rotz and Anelyse Weiler, Canadian Dimensions, June 29, 2026 / 9 min read)'(Minister) Michel proudly noted that she was the first health minister to speak at an event hosted by CropLife, which happened to fall on the same day as Bill C-30 was introduced. Michel and her political advisor have also met with CropLife numerous times over the past year. The organization praised the new law... This cozier relationship between industry and government appears more akin to overt, American-style agribusiness lobbying.
Minister Michel is supposed to receive guidance on changes to pesticide protections from the Pesticide Management Advisory Council, a multi-stakeholder body of Health Canada. However, she has not called any meetings with the council, raising serious questions about why the government has sidelined its own advisory process while advancing such sweeping changes.
- Canada’s pesticide regulatory framework was already flawed before Bill C-30
- A narrow vision of food security
- How we built a system dependent on pesticides : Observations of harm to both humans and wildlife (declines in bird populations being the most infamous example) sparked widespread scrutiny. Research accumulated, confirming the serious impacts of DDT. Although both chemical companies and government actors made significant efforts to discredit these findings, the growing evidence led to pesticide bans and regulation.
This history offers important lessons for today. Regulatory systems exist because those who benefitted most from these products undermined and ignored their risk, and we all collectively paid for it.
Indeed, the rise of pesticide use is the result of deliberate research and policy decisions made by industry and governments about how agriculture should function.
SNAP Comment: Excellent article reviewing the history of pesticide use and regulation and adding a call to action.
filed under Legislation/Regulatory/Canada p2
- Wednesday, July 29, 2026
No safe Level: Former federal scientist warns Bill C-30 opens the door for more pesticides in already broken regulatory system
No safe Level: Former federal scientist warns Bill C-30 opens the door for more pesticides in already broken regulatory system. (The Pointer, 5 July 2026)
SNAP comment: Excellent article. Lots of quotables like why the current system is outdated and does not provide safety, that climate change is the biggest threat to food security, that science is being 'vetoed' by government to 'favor commercial interests' . The publisher does not allow copying.
filed under Legislation/Regulatory/Canada p2
- Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Toxic Harvest Report
Canada s Pesticide Crisis
Toxic Harvest. Canada's Pesticide Crisis (eco-justice, 2025)
'Canada allows highly toxic pesticides linked to human health and environmental problems that are banned in the European Union to be used in the millions of kilograms, and is decades behind in evaluating, restricting and eliminating the most toxic pesticides. Canada also lacks transparent data and information on how pesticides are used, and how they are impacting our air, land, soils, water, and ecosystems.
Canada is on a chemical-dependence treadmill that shows no signs of abating. Market forecasts predict significant annual growth in Canadian pesticide sales by 2029. As the climate crisis deepens and temperatures rise pests will likely cease to be as well-controlled by colder temperatures.
- Canadian agriculture may be harmed from pesticide overuse
- Pesticide overuse contributes to food production costs and threatens food sovereignty
- Human health risks
- Ecological Harm
- Pesticides exacerbate climate change
- Most dangerous pesticides to be banned
- Acknowledging pesticide use reduction as a goal has precedents.
- recommendations and more.
- Sunday, July 26, 2026
Scandalous, irrational and irresponsible: French beekeepers’ fury at lifting of pesticides ban
neonicotinoids acetamiprid and flupyradifurone
'Scandalous, irrational and irresponsible’: French beekeepers’ fury at lifting of pesticides ban (The Guardian, 26 JUly 2025) Allowing use of two neonicotinoids to combat crop-ruining disease will kill bees and reduce harvests, union says
The law, passed on Tuesday, allows France’s food and environmental safety agency, Anses, to grant waivers authorising the use of the pesticides acetamiprid and flupyradifurone in struggling farm sectors and under exceptional circumstances.
The use of the pesticides, allowed in the EU but banned in France, will be authorised to combat aphid-borne diseases that can ruin crops of sugar beet, apples, hazelnuts and cherries, which has led producers to claim they can no longer compete with European rivals.
Scientific studies have established that acetamiprid, a neonicotinoid with powerful neurotoxic effects, can poison bees, affecting their foraging capacity and memory. A 2024 study suggested flupyradifurone could be lethal to some honeybees.
According to agriculture ministry figures, honey production in France halved between the mid-1990s, when neonicotinoids were introduced, and the mid-2010s, although habitat loss and climate breakdown were also contributing factors.
SNAP Comment: The Canadian government has recently passsed Vill C-30 witha provision allowing Cabinet to reintroduce banned pesticides. As of July 26, 2026, there are 12 acetamiprid (from 13), and 10 flupyradifurone containing pesticides registered in Canada. Acetamiprid was not considered for Canada's ban on neonics in 2020 (reversed in 2022).
filed under neonicotinoids 2, flupyradifurone legislation/regulatory/Europe
- Saturday, July 25, 2026
Nutrients in our food are declining. Can regenerative agriculture save it?
Approach focuses on rebuilding soil health, increasing biodiversity and restoring natural ecosystems
Nutrients in our food are declining. Can regenerative agriculture save it? Approach focuses on rebuilding soil health, increasing biodiversity and restoring natural ecosystems (The Guardian, 24 July 2026)
'Her work, in conjunction with the University of Lincoln, explores how regenerative agriculture affects nutrient density. The researchers sampled a number of products and found that iron in kale could be up to 22 times higher in samples from regenerative farms compared with conventional ones, while selenium (an antioxidant) in dried peas was eight times higher.
The way soil is treated by modern farming may be part of the problem. Ploughing and heavy use of chemicals – fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides – disturb and even destroy the soil’s mycorrhizal networks, which we are only just coming to understand but allow plants to pull in nutrients from the earth.
Dr David Montgomery, a US geologist and the co-author of the book What Your Food Ate, says we need regenerative agriculture to right the wrongs of the “degenerative” farming that helped sustain a postwar population boom but wrecked soil health in the process.'
filed under Organics/Farming
- Thursday, July 23, 2026
A public health emergency waiting to occur : how US industry groups spent years fighting who gets to measure toxic air
'A public health emergency waiting to occur’: how US industry groups spent years fighting who gets to measure toxic air (The Guardian, Mon 20 Jul 2026)
..
SNAP Comment: One of the bad chemicals in the story is naphta. Why is this relevant to Canada? Naphta is on List 2-Potentially Toxic Formulants with a High Priority for Testing and one on list 4B. The information on which pesticide formulations contain it is secret.'At 6.50pm, the coast guard fielded a report that naphtha – a highly flammable liquid – was leaking from an above-ground tank at the Garyville facility. More than six hours passed before the Louisiana department of environmental quality began monitoring the air.
Naphtha exposure can cause dizziness, headaches and nausea, and a Guardian investigation found at least 29 residents were later treated at area hospitals.' I don't think this story only happens on Louisiana...Under EPA rules, however, some plants are allowed to report emission estimates rather than direct measurements – and those estimates can be wildly off base. A 2025 ProPublica investigation found that when the EPA required temporary physical monitors at industrial sites, 97% of facilities were underreporting emissions.'
filed under Formulants/Inerts/ Canada
- Friday, July 17, 2026
Pesticide Exposure 101: Protecting Human Health 2026
Pesticide Exposure 101: Protecting Human Health 2026 (PAN, 2026)
'Senior Scientist Dr. Emily Marquez details the ways in which pesticides enter the human body and cause harm. She also explains who is most at risk for harm from exposure to pesticides, why, and what we can do to better protect ourselves and our communities from the harmful effects of these chemicals.
“There is no question whether pesticides are harmful to people’s health. Pesticides are designed to manage (kill) pests such as plants, insects, rodents, fungi, and soil-borne pathogens. Because pesticides are meant to kill living things, they harm people and the environment—not just pests. This brief talks about pesticide exposure and the ways in which exposure is categorized, why some populations are more susceptible to pesticide exposures, and how communities’ health could be better protected from those exposures.”
Dr. Marquez explains that after application pesticides end up in four places: air, soil, water, and biota (organisms). She details the different pathways for exposure: via dermal absorption, ingestion, inhalation, and ocular. Dr. Marquez also explains how the body handles pesticide exposure in different ways depending on the chemical’s persistence, and the difference between acute and chronic exposures.
In closing, this resource provides readers with individual and collective actions we can take to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities from the harmful effects of pesticide exposures. Arming ourselves with knowledge is the first step toward community care. We hope this resource is useful and encourage you to share it with anyone who may make use of it!'
filed under Exposure to Pesticides p.2 and Action
- Thursday, July 16, 2026
Intimidation lawsuits aimed at Quebec municipalities who banned more pesticides than the provincial law
Vigilance OGM dénonce des « poursuites-bâillons » contre des municipalités qui renforcent l’encadrement des pesticides
Vigilance OGM dénonce des « poursuites-bâillons » contre des municipalités qui renforcent l’encadrement des pesticides (Vigilance OGM, 16 Juillet 2026) en francais.
Intimidation lawsuits aimed at Quebec municipalities who banned more pesticides than the provincial law. Thesse lawsuits are launched by the Ornamental Horticulture Association of Quebec / l’Association en horticulture ornementale du Québec (ASHOQ).
'Dans un article (1) de La Presse publié mardi, Vigilance OGM a appris que plusieurs municipalités ayant adopté une réglementation plus restrictive que le gouvernement du Québec en matière de pesticides sur leur territoire font aujourd’hui l’objet d’une poursuite judiciaire intentée par l’Association en horticulture ornementale du Québec (ASHOQ).
« La honte ». C’est ce qu’a déclaré Laure Mabileau, responsable de la campagne Sortir du glyphosate pour Vigilance OGM. « L’ASHOQ semble miser sur une stratégie d'intimidation envers des municipalités qui ne font que leur devoir : protéger leur population d’une exposition dangereuse aux pesticides, et souvent inutile. »'
filed under bylaws/provincial/ Quebec and industry shenanigans/regulatory and legal p.2
- Wednesday, July 8, 2026
LIBBY S FREE & EASY GUIDE TO COMMUNITY LOBBYING
LIBBY S FREE & EASY GUIDE TO ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE
LIBBY'S FREE & EASY GUIDE TO ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE (download for free from Charlie Angus / The Resistance)
LIBBY'S FREE & EASY GUIDE TO COMMUNITY LOBBYING download for free from Charlie Angus / The Resistance)
“If you want to do something but don’t know where to start, these handbooks are like gold! If your goal is to build a resistance group, you are already on your way! Adapt as required!”
filed under Action - How to
- Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Pest Control Products Sales Report for 2024]
29 more products and 11,415,784 kg than in 2021
Pest Control Products Sales Report for 2024 (PMRA, Government of Canada) .
There were 7798 products registered with Health Canada for use in Canada in the 2024 calendar year. All technical grade active ingredient and manufacturing concentrate product information wasexcluded from calculation as the quantity is reported in the end-use products. Also, products where the data could not be converted to kg a.i., due to the reported units of measure, were excluded from calculation. Of the remaining 2775 products reported as sold, the overall pesticide sales in Canada in 2024 were 144 301 218 kg a.i., which is a 1% increase from the 142 829 854 kg a.i. sold in 2023 (Figure 1). Pesticide sales have been steadily increasing over the last 5 years. Changes in overall pesticide sales is driven by changes in agricultural herbicide sales. 29 more products and 11,415,784 kg than in 2021. Appendix I Ranking of all active ingredients sold in Canada in 2024on p. 18, and
Appendix II Chemical groups and active ingredients – 2024 on p. 33..SNAP Comment: Several very toxic product are included in the top 10 ingredients for the non-commercial sector such as creosote, Glutaraldehyde, and Arsenic acid. They are all antimicrobials, including the #1 chlorine. What you do not find in this report is the sales by province. Most provinces keep track of their pesticide sales, but not Saskatchewan. In fact, after trying to keep track for 3 years, SK stopped because they thought it would be in this annual Canadian report.
filed under Pesticide Use and Sales/Canada.
- Wednesday, July 8, 2026
European strawberries widely contaminated with PFAS and endocrine-disrupting pesticides
European strawberries widely contaminated with PFAS and endocrine-disrupting pesticides pane (PAN Europe), 7 July 2026
The most frequently identified pesticides are fludioxonil and cyprodinil, two endocrine disruptors that should have been banned under EU law. In addition, 56% of the identified pesticides are part of the group of the 'more hazardous pesticides' that should have been phased out since 2011. These results confirm that a better implementation of the pesticide legislation is needed, not a loosening of the rules, as currently discussed in the EU under the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus proposal.
SNAP comment: Fludioxonil and cyprodinil are both fungicides currently registered in Canada. Fludioxonil is used as a seed treatment, a foliar spray and a post-harvest dip to control fungal pathogens on a large number of crops. A quick check seem to indicate it is used for post-harvest potato and sweet potato treatment in Canada, but I did not find strawberries in the allowed crops.
filed under food p3
- Wednesday, July 8, 2026
How to file access to information request in Canada
How to file access to information request in Canada
If you know what records you want and what department holds them, filing a federal access to information request can take as little as 5 minutes and cost 5 bucks.
If you want previously released material, it could take as little as 1-2 minutes and cost nothing:
Completed access to info requests: https://open.canada.ca/en/search/ati (Search for a topic, click on the release that you want and follow the steps to obtain it.)
New Access to Information requests: https://atip-aiprp.tbs-sct.gc.ca/
Proactive Disclosure Grants and contributions: https://search.open.canada.ca/grants/?sort=score+desc&page=1&search_text=
Proactive Disclosure of financials: https://open.canada.ca/en/proactive-disclosureHere is 13.5-minute video about how to write Access to Information requests. (It is for immigration status applicants, the authors of 83% of ATIP requests.
filed under Action - How to
- Saturday, July 4, 2026
Fraud scandal in EU pesticide approval system has kept neurotoxic pesticide on the market for years
re: fluazinam fungicide
Fraud scandal in EU pesticide approval system has kept neurotoxic pesticide on the market for years Pan europe (pane), 2 July 2026
The fungicide fluazinam can harm brain development, but this evidence was effectively hidden from regulators for more than a decade- new research from scientists at Stockholm University has revealed.
It is not the first case of regulatory fraud involving pesticides. It should lead to immediate withdrawal of fluazinam pesticide products from the market, legal sanctions for those responsible, and a comprehensive review of how regulatory studies are conducted, reported and assessed.SNAP Comment: There are 15 pesticide formulations containing Fluazinam currently registered in Canada.
- Saturday, July 4, 2026
Congress members move to override Supreme Court ruling on pesticide protections
Congress members move to override Supreme Court ruling on pesticide protections Carey Gillam, tnl {truth from the ground}, 39 June 2026
Some US lawmakers are rushing to introduce legislation to reverse the impact of a US Supreme Court ruling handed down last week that overturned years of precedent by limiting consumer lawsuits against pesticide companies.
Some US lawmakers are rushing to introduce legislation to reverse the impact of a US Supreme Court ruling handed down last week that overturned years of precedent by limiting consumer lawsuits against pesticide companies.
US Rep Chellie Pingree, a Democrat from Maine, and Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, on Monday introduced an amendment to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) – the key law for regulating pesticides. Under their proposed amendment to FIFRA, people who are exposed to pesticides they blame for causing health problems would once again be able to sue companies for failing to warn them of health risks.
filed under Legislation/Regulatory/USA p.2
- Saturday, July 4, 2026
EU allows cancer-linked pesticides, despite known potential risks
4 of those pesticides still registered in Canada.
EU allows cancer-linked pesticides, despite known potential risks PAN Europe (pane) June 5, 2026
During European Week Against Cancer, the European Commission defended its Beating Cancer Plan, a strategy to tackle cancer from prevention to early detection. While the EU rightly focuses on tackling causes such as tobacco and pollution, pesticides are not even mentioned in this plan. However, an increasing number of scientific studies are pointing to the link between cancer and pesticides exposure. Moreover, at least 15 suspected carcinogenic pesticides are still approved in the EU.
If the EU is serious about tackling cancer, they should immediately ban not only pesticides well known to cause cancer but also those classified as suspected carcinogens. There are at least 15 approved active substances that have been classified as suspected carcinogens (Category 2) that are used in pesticide products used all across Europe. The EU still permits substances like captan, a fungicide suspected of causing cancer and harming fertility, whose breakdown products in drinking water (metabolites) may retain similar toxic properties. Another substance in the market is folpet, a widely used fungicide linked to both cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
Here is the full list of EU-allowed pesticides linked to cancer: (Canadian registered pesticides in bold).
- Aclonifen (two Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) criteria)
- Amisulbrom
- Bupirimate
- Captan
- Chlorotoluron (endocrine-disrupting properties, two PBT criteria)
- Folpet
- Forchlorfenuron
- Imazalil (aka enilconazole)
- Kresoxim-methyl
- Lenacil ( two PBT criteria)
- Metazachlor
- Pirimicarb (two PBT criteria)
- Propyzamide (two PBT criteria)
- Proquinazid
- Quizalofop-P-tefuryl
- Add to that glyphosate.
Pesticides unrecognised as carcinogens linked to cancer see table
A study published in the journal Nature has linked prolonged exposure to pesticides with an increased risk of cancer. The study considered 31 of the most common pesticides in Peru; none of which are classified as known human carcinogens by the World Health Organisation (WHO). 3
In addition, one third of these substances are also allowed in the EU, such as glyphosate, the reprotoxic abamectin or the neurotoxic deltamethrin, which produces brain damage in pregnant animals. 4
The study published in Nature demonstrated the link between exposure to a cocktail of pesticides and cancer for the first time at a national level. By cross-referencing a mapping of pesticide-related environmental pollution with geodata from more than 150,000 patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2020 in Perú, the researchers were able to identify areas where people were both more likely to be exposed to pesticides in the environment and to cancer. In these areas, the risk of developing cancer was, on average, 150% higher.
SNAP comment There are 0 Aclonifen, 0 Amisulbrom, 0 Bupirimate, 12 (from 85) Captan,
0 Chlorotoluron (endocrine-disrupting properties, two PBT criteria), 8 (from 23) Folpet, 0 Forchlorfenuron, 0 Imazalil (aka enilconazole), 2 (from 3) Kresoxim-methyl, 0 Lenacil (two PBT criteria), 0 Metazachlor, 0 (from 10) Pirimicarb (two PBT criteria), 3 (from 5) Propyzamide (two PBT criteria), 0 Proquinazid. 0 Quizalofop-P-tefuryl, glyphosate currently (and historically) registered in Canada. The pesticides currently or historically registered are in bold. Pesticides form the Pervian study: Pesticides from the Peruvian study. 145 (from 598) 2,4-D, 9 (from 26) abamectin, 4 (from 7) acephate, 17 (from 66) atrazine, 3 (from 206) carbaryl, 0 (from 7) carbofuran, 0 (from 297) chlorpyrifos, 0 copper sulphate pentahydrate, 22 (from 27) deltamethrin, 0 (from 184) Diazinon, 0 Difeconazole, 8 (from 46) dimethoate, 0 fipronil, 202 (from 397) glyphosate, 94 (from 138) imidacloprid, 4 (from 16) linuron, 11 (from 53) mancozeb, 38 (from 66) metalaxyl-M, 0 (from 5) methamidophos, 4 (from 13) methomyl, 3 (from 10) metiram, 0 monocrotophos, 12 (from 13) novaluron, 0 (from 16) oxydemeton-methyl, 7 (from 9) oxyfluorfen, 302 (from 749) permethrin, 0 (from 10) Pirimicarb, 0 propineb, 5 (from 15) sulfoxaflor, 82 (from 89) tebuconazole, 0 (from 13) trichlorfon.Four of the European pesticides linked to Cancer are still registed in Canada, and 1 has historically been registered. Most of the pesticides studied in the Peruvian study are still currently registerd in Canada. I find it astounding that Peru had enough data to cross-reference cancer occurrence with pesticide use while, in Saskatchewan, we don't even have current pesticide sales data.past the partial data of 2001-2003... let alone use data....
- Tuesday, June 30, 2026
US Supreme Court DROPS SHOCK Ruling in CANCER CASE
US Supreme Court DROPS SHOCK Ruling in CANCER CASE. (Meidas Touch, 29 June 2026)
People who get cancer from a pesticide can no longer sue to get compensation, and federal law pre-empts state laws. It's all in the labeling. If the EPA did not see fit to put cancer risk on the label, then the manufacturer did not have to notify users of cancer risk. Therefore states cannot add a warning label on the label or apparently take cases in state court. Great dissent by Justice Jackson. 11 min youTube videofiled under Legislation/Regulatory/ USA p.2
- Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Food and Feed Safety Omnibus - Weaker protection
Europe
Food and Feed Safety Omnibus - Weaker protection (PAN Europe, June 2026)
Key facts
- The omnibus proposal makes unlimited pesticide approvals the default, removing the regular reassessment of safety
- Analysis shows 49 synthetic pesticides could automatically receive unlimited approval as of 1 January 2027
- This includes glyphosate, acetamiprid and some PFAS pesticides.
- Weakening these rules shifts costs and responsibilities from industry to the public
- National authorities are restricted from using the latest scientific evidence
- Harmful pesticides, such as endocrine disruptors and groundwater contaminants, could remain authorised “by derogation”
- Banned pesticides, including some carcinogenic and reprotoxic substances, could remain on the market for up to three additional years
- A scientific asessment commissioned by the Dutch Parliament shows that the proposal will not create a level playing field for old and new substances and will not lead to accelerated innovation and approvals
- The proposal is now being discussed by the European Parliament and the Council (Member States)
The overall direction is clear: reduce independent scientific scrutiny, curtail Member States' ability to act, and make it easier for pesticides to remain on the market indefinitely.
The resemblance to industry recommendations is hardly surprising. The rapporteurs met only with agribusiness representatives while preparing the report. They had zero meetings with health groups or scientists.
It is a fundamental attack on the EU's pesticide safety framework. We call on shadow rapporteurs to reject this report and put human health and environmental protection before the interests of agribusiness.
- Monday, June 29, 2026
Pesticide use around homes and farms linked to childhood leukemia, brain tumors
Pesticide use around homes and farms linked to childhood leukemia, brain tumors
Forty years of studies find higher cancer risks among children exposed during pregnancy and early life to pesticides used on farms, lawns, gardens, and pets (Pamela Ferdinand, US Right to Know, June 8, 2026)'Although pesticide residues occur in food and drinking water, the review focuses on exposure from agricultural drift, workplace exposure, and pesticide use in and around homes. Children often come in contact with residues carried home on parents’ clothing and through contaminated household dust. Flea-and-tick treatments for pets also expose them to pesticides.
The authors said the evidence now justifies preventive action to reduce exposures.
“Residential or agricultural pesticide use in spaces where children spend most of their time poses a significant risk to their well-being and physical development,” they wrote.'filed under cancer
- Sunday, June 28, 2026
Can the bucket of doom actually keep mosquitoes at bay?
Can the 'bucket of doom' actually keep mosquitoes at bay? ( CBC News Manitoba, 24 June 2026) 13 1/2 min video explaing the method, why it works and ow long it takes.. Will only work if no standing water around. .Also discusses repellents and some non-organic methods, unfortunately.
filed under alternatives/ insects and invertebrates.
- Saturday, June 27, 2026
Nova Scotia mother creates popular non-chemical tick repellant spray
based on lemon grass
Nova Scotia mother creates popular non-chemical tick repellant spray (CTV News, 22 June 2026) based on lemon grass
2 minutes video.filed under alternatives/insects and invertebrates/additonal information
- Friday, June 26, 2026
Pesticide sales rise in the EU despite Commission claims of decline in use
Pesticide sales rise in the EU despite Commission claims of decline in use (pane on June 2, 2026)
'Pesticide sales in the EU rose by 8% in 2024 compared to the previous year, reaching 316.000 tonnes, according to the latest Eurostat data. The new data refute the Commission’s claim of a 61% reduction in pesticide use, a figure based on a flawed indicator. The EU is far from the objective of gradually reducing farmers' dependency on pesticides. In addition, with its recent Food and Feed Omnibus proposal, the Commission seeks to prolong the presence of hazardous pesticides on the market.'
filed under Pesticide Sales
- Thursday, June 25, 2026
BLAME IT ON THE GOPHERS
PestiÂcide laws chanÂging
BLAME IT ON THE GOPHERS
Pesticide laws changingAn infestation of Richardson ground squirrels, often referred to as gophers, in Alberta and Saskatchewan has affected a variety of crops, including canola, cereal and corn.
(CATHERINE LÉVESQUE, Regina Leader-Post, 23 Jun 2026)Apparently Carney's decision to bypass safety to register a pesticide has to do with strychnine.
'The infestation of the Richardson ground squirrels, colloquially known as gophers, in both provinces was so rampant and the size of the holes the animals would dig were so big that the tires of tractors would be blown out and other farming equipment would be badly damaged.' 'More generally, the official said the government has heard from Canadian innovators and venture capitalists in the agriculture space that they are leaving the country because of a regulatory environment for pesticides that is too cumbersome, risky and unpredictable when farmers were faced with an “unmanageable infestation” and lacked suitable alternatives.'
SNAP comments: There are indeed lots of ground squirrels this year but I have never seen mounds or holes that big,... especially when you see the size of new farm equipment. There are alternatives like zinc phosphide and many other rodenticides. However they can all affect other species when not used properly.
filed under Legislation/regulatory/ Canada p 2
BLAME IT ON THE GOPHERS
Pesticide laws changingAn infestation of Richardson ground squirrels, often referred to as gophers, in Alberta and Saskatchewan has affected a variety of crops, including canola, cereal and corn.
(CATHERINE LÉVESQUE, Regina Leader-Post, 23 Jun 2026)OTTAWA • This spring, the federal government announced it would be temporarily lifting a two-year ban on a controversial rodenticide called strychnine until next year after damages worth hundreds of millions of dollars by a particular rodent in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The infestation of the Richardson ground squirrels, colloquially known as gophers, in both provinces was so rampant and the size of the holes the animals would dig were so big that the tires of tractors would be blown out and other farming equipment would be badly damaged.
The infestation of the Richardson ground squirrels, colloquially known as gophers, in both provinces was so rampant and the size of the holes the animals would dig were so big that the tires of tractors would be blown out and other farming equipment would be badly damaged.
The situation has affected a wide variety of crops — including canola, cereal and corn — across the Prairies at a time when Canada is aiming to export its resources globally.
Alberta and Saskatchewan submitted a joint emergency use request to Health Canada that was approved in late March, but it was already too late by then for farmers to use strychnine this year as the sole authorized manufacturer has faced supply chain issues.
A senior government official with knowledge of the deliberations said it took almost three rounds of emergency registration requests for strychnine to be approved at a time when farmers were faced with an “unmanageable infestation” and lacked suitable alternatives.
More generally, the official said the government has heard from Canadian innovators and venture capitalists in the agriculture space that they are leaving the country because of a regulatory environment for pesticides that is too cumbersome, risky and unpredictable.
“That is something that, I think, is keeping all of us up at night,” they said.
That's why the government moved last week to amend the Pest Control Products Act to make it easier to reinstate some previously banned pesticides such as strychnine in a more timely manner — a disposition, the government said, will be used only when necessary to protect Canada's economy or food security.
“Let's be clear: the health and safety of Canadians will always be the priority,” said Alexandre Bergeron, press secretary to Health Minister Marjorie Michel.
HOW HAS THE LAW CHANGED?
Canada has given some exceptional new powers to the Governor in Council to amend registration or reauthorize a previously deregistered or banned pesticide if the country is faced with another situation that would have significant effects on the economy.
The changes were buried in Bill C-30, which implements elements of the spring economic update. The legislation was rushed through the House of Commons and the Senate last week before lawmakers left for summer. It received royal assent last Thursday.
The government had announced its intention in the update to amend the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act and the Pest Control Products Act to include consideration of food security and cost of food, but it did not explicitly mention authorizing banned pesticides.
The law now says the federal minister of health is to consider “as appropriate, national economic security, regional economic security or national food security” in deciding whether a pest control product should be used in Canada.
WHAT IS THE REACTION?
The news was welcomed by farmers and agricultural groups who said it will help with food affordability, but environmental and health organizations are sounding the alarm, saying politicians will be able to override science-based data to favour commercial interests.
“Giving cabinet the power to authorize the use of pesticides despite unacceptable risks is a dangerous departure from science-based decision-making,” Lisa Gue, national policy manager at the David Suzuki Foundation, said in a joint news release with other groups.
Jane Mcarthur, from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, said the escalation in toxic hazards will create real harms: increasing miscarriages, neurological diseases, contaminating ecosystems and weakening protections for future generations.
But Scott Ross, executive director at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, said it is essential to align regulatory systems with food security and agricultural productivity.
WILL THERE BE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES?
Opposition parties have complained that there was nearly or no consultation or opportunity to study the changes to pesticide laws, as C-30 was rammed through the House finance committee after hours of obstruction by Conservatives.
Green Leader Elizabeth May attempted to water down the part on the Pest Control Products Act with amendments that were rejected. But the government accepted four of Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault's amendments that increase transparency on decisions.
The Senate was equally frustrated to have to pass C-30 without having heard from experts. Sen. Rosa Galvez, an expert in pollution control, said the provisions on pesticides deserved a separate legislative process and a comprehensive study before approving them.
Progressives are increasingly growing frustrated with the Liberals' deference to big business groups. NDP MP Gord Johns said the Liberals are letting “corporate lobbyists write the rules on pesticides rather than prioritizing the health and safety of Canadians.”
- Thursday, June 25, 2026
One of the world’s most popular weedkillers may be fueling deadly superbugs
glyphosate
One of the world’s most popular weedkillers may be fueling deadly superbugs
A widely used weedkiller may be giving dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria an unexpected advantage in the fight for survival. (Science Direct, Source: Frontiers, June 23, 2026)
Researchers found that highly drug-resistant bacteria from hospitals are also resistant to glyphosate, a commonly used weedkiller. The discovery suggests that agricultural herbicides may be helping antibiotic-resistant microbes survive and spread far beyond healthcare settings. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) contributes to an estimated 1.1 million to 1.4 million deaths worldwide each year.
Based on the findings, the researchers argue that pesticide regulations should take antibiotic resistance into account before products reach the market.
filed under glyphosate 2/ p3 and resistance/ resistance to antibiotics
- Thursday, June 25, 2026
Glyphosate: Cancer, liver disease, endocrine disruption and other health concerns
Glyphosate: Cancer, liver disease, endocrine disruption and other health concerns (Stacy Malkan, US Right to Know, June 16, 2026) Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide worldwide. It is linked to cancer, liver and kidney disease, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity and many other health concerns.
First patented by the Monsanto Company, glyphosate is now manufactured and sold by many companies in hundreds of products. It is best known as the active ingredient in Roundup-branded herbicides, and the herbicide used with “Roundup Ready” genetically modified organisms (GMOs). More than 90% of GMO corn and soybeans in the U.S. are genetically engineered to tolerate herbicides, according to USDA data.
A 2017 study in JAMA found that Americans’ exposure to glyphosate increased approximately 500 percent since Roundup Ready GMO crops were introduced in 1996. More than 80% of urine samples drawn from children and adults in a 2022 U.S. study contained glyphosate, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Scientists described this finding as “disturbing” and “concerning.”
filed under health overview/links and glyphosate 2/ p3
- Monday, June 22, 2026
A province-wide survey of neonicotinoids, chlorantraniliprole, atrazine, metolachlor, and other pesticides in drinking water of Québec, Canada
Quebec study
A province-wide survey of neonicotinoids, chlorantraniliprole, atrazine, metolachlor, and other pesticides in drinking water of Québec, Canada (Xiameng Feng et al, Science of the Total Environnement, Volume 1038, 1 July 2026, 181889) .
- Pesticides were screened at a province-wide scale in tap water of Québec, Canada.
- 398/425 samples (94%) had detectable levels of at least 1 pesticide.
- Atrazine was the most frequent and dominated pesticide profiles in most watersheds.
- Clustering analysis revealed region-specific trends and pesticide hotspots.
- Despite regional contrasts, pesticide levels were compliant with Canadian guidelines.
Neonicotinoids were rarely detected in finished tap water (e.g., detection rates of imidacloprid and thiamethoxam: 9–11%). Hexazinone was more frequently detected in tap water from the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, likely related to its use in blueberry fields. Hot spots with relatively high levels of insecticide residues included 3 sites from Portneuf's Regional County Municipality (ΣNeonicotinoids up to 250 ng/L) and 2 sites from Montérégie (chlorantraniliprole up to 66 ng/L), all sourced from groundwater. The number of compounds detected per sample varied between 0 and 16 (on average, six pesticides detected).
24 target pesticides: Acetamiprid, atrazine, chlorantraniliprole, clothianidin, cyanazine,desethylatrazine (DEA) deisopropylatrazine (DIA), dimethenamid, fluxapyroxad, hexazinone, hydroxyatrazine (ATZ-OH); imidacloprid, linuron, metconazole, metribuzin, prometryn, propiconazole, pyrimethanil, simazine, (S)-metolachlor, tebuconazole, thiamethoxam, Fomesafen, and nicosulfuron.
filed udner Water/ Pesticides in Water- Canada
- Sunday, June 21, 2026
Paraquat Linked to Parkinson’s Disease in U.S. County with Among the Highest Rates, Supporting Call for a Ban
(Beyond Pesticides, June 10, 2026) Adding to the wide body of science connecting the weed killer paraquat to deleterious health and environmental effects, Investigate Midwest recently released an investigative news article connecting air emissions of paraquat from chemical plants in the Mississippi Basin to Parkinson’s disease, among other adverse health effects. The herbicide is also fatal to humans with a single sip, as documented in the article, entitled “This herbicide is so toxic it’s been banned in over 70 countries. But plants in the South are releasing it into the air.”
According to previous data from the U.S. Geological Survey, approximately 11 to 17 million pounds of paraquat were sprayed annually in 2017, which may be much higher in recent years... Research has proven that paraquat is not needed for agriculture.
Use of the cheap, broad-spectrum herbicide has more than tripled between 2006 and 2017, a surge the EPA has attributed to a rise in resistance to another popular herbicide called glyphosate.
SNAP Comment: Although paraquat was a restricted pesticide in Canada in the last years of registration, there were 18 historically registered products. The last registration expired on 8 March 2022. Looking at the tons still used in the US, it is likely still coming in as contamination on imported US foods. It is good to remember that paraquat was registered in Canada in 1963, it is one of the chemicals that was grandfathered and remained on the market after the IBT fraud scandal of 1980, when no pesticide on the market had credible safety data. It took 43 years more to ban it. If anything, the Canadian regulatory system is far from fast. I supose that cabinet may decide to bringit back in spite of negative health effects underthe authority given to it by Bill
- Sunday, June 21, 2026
THE PESTICIDE SCHEME - DEMOCRACY DIES IN THE BACKROOM
THE PESTICIDE SCHEME - DEMOCRACY DIES IN THE BACKROOM (Charlie Angus, youtube, 21 June 2026.
Just before the summer break the Carney government changed the law so that cabinet can override science and health experts in allowing the use of banned pesticides. When you allow politicians to override science you turn decision making over to the back room lobbyists. This is how democracy dies. Canada is standing up on the global stage. We have to defend democracy here at home.
SNAP Comment: I was going to send my review of pesticide law changes this week, as we were told the comment periold had been extended to July.
filed under Legislation/regulatory/ Canada p.2
- Sunday, June 21, 2026
Population Declines in Insectivorous Birds Linked to Insecticide Exposure and Declines in Insects, Study Finds
French study
(Beyond Pesticides, May 28, 2026) Researchers from France and Germany, as published in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, find that declines in bird populations are strongly linked to their diets, with insectivorous birds experiencing the greatest impacts. “Overall, our results emphasize the strong association between insecticide use and insectivorous bird declines,” the authors state. They continue: “We found a consistent negative association between insecticide use and population trends of insectivorous birds, the most abundant group, regardless of migration strategy.
Notably, an increase in insecticide use by only one gram per hectare, per year correlates with decreased insectivorous bird abundance by 0.16–0.28% per year. Research shows that the depletion of insect prey is also linked to reduced reproductive success in birds.
filed under wildlife section/birds p2
- Sunday, June 21, 2026
WATCH: “In the 51 years I’ve worked on pesticides, this is the single most regressive proposal I’ve ever seen.â€
WATCH: “In the 51 years I’ve worked on pesticides, this is the single most regressive proposal I’ve ever seen.”
Elizabeth May warned the government this morning about dangerous pesticide control changes hidden in Bill C-30.
Despite her efforts, and calls from environmental and health organizations across Canada to scrap Division 8, the government rejected every one of her amendments and pushed through sweeping changes to pesticide controls.- À VOIR : « En 51 ans de travail dans le domaine des pesticides, c’est la proposition la plus rétrograde que j’aie jamais vue. »
Elizabeth May a mis en garde le gouvernement ce matin contre les modifications dangereuses en matière de contrôle des pesticides dissimulées dans le projet de loi C-30.
Malgré ses efforts et les appels lancés par des organisations environnementales et sanitaires de tout le Canada pour supprimer la section 8, le gouvernement a rejeté tous ses amendements et a fait adopter des changements radicaux en matière de contrôle des pesticidesfiled under Legislation/regulatory/ Canada p.2
- Sunday, June 21, 2026
Widespread Multiple Pesticide Exposure with Adverse Effects Again Documented in Honey Bee Hives
Swiss research
Widespread Multiple Pesticide Exposure with Adverse Effects Again Documented in Honey Bee Hives
(Beyond Pesticides, May 29, 2026) In a new study published in Environmental Pollution, researchers detected 15 currently used pesticides (CUPs)—including 10 pesticide compounds detected but not applied within the study’s managed fields— in the pollen of beehives in an environment meant to reflect a typical honey bee foraging range. The detection of pesticides that were not directly applied within the study’s target radius demonstrates the pervasiveness of pesticide drift into soils, streams, and bodies.
- Applied CUPs Detected in Pollen. Acetamiprid is one example of a pesticide detected following applications to rapeseed in both 2023 and 2024.
- CUPS Detected but not Applied in Agroscope Fields. Ten CUPs were found in pollen despite no (limited) application records within the Agroscope-managed fields, suggesting broader contamination and pesticide drift. These include the insecticides Spirodiclofen and Chlorpyrifos, fungicides (Azoxystrobin, Mepanipyrim, Cyprodinil, Trifloxystrobin, Fluopyram, and Fludioxonil), the fungicide metabolite desthio-prothioconazole, and the pesticide synergist Piperonyl butoxide to boost toxicity.
SNAP Comment: There are insecticides 12 (from historically 13) Acetamiprid 5 Spirodiclofen and 0 (from 297) Chlorpyrifos, fungicides (59 Azoxystrobin, 0 Mepanipyrim, 10 ( from 11) Cyprodinil, 39 (from 47)Trifloxystrobin, 21 (from 23) Fluopyram, and 51 (from 70) Fludioxonil), the fungicide metabolite desthio-prothioconazole, and the 192 (from 1640) Piperonyl butoxide pesticide synergist currently registered in Canada. .As most of those pesticides are currently registered in Canada, one can also expect effects on the bees her where they are used.
filed under bee die-off p.2.
- Sunday, June 21, 2026
Safe Foods Matters on the Canadian Government ramming through a bad pesticide law.
Safe Foods Matters on the Canadian Government ramming through a bad pesticide law.
Bill C-30 is now law.
Safe Food Matters President Mary Lou McDonald explains why the legislation represents a significant shift in Canada’s approach to democracy and pesticides.
Bill C-30 was rushed through Parliament as budget legislation despite containing major pesticide policy changes. The bill grants Cabinet sweeping powers to overrule scientific findings of harm, raising concerns about transparency, accountability, and the legitimacy of pesticide oversight in Canada.
Watch to learn what these changes could mean and why public participation matters📄 Read Safe Food Matters’ submission on Bill C-30: https://safefoodmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SFM-Submission-Bill-C-30.pdf
The report outlines why Bill C-30 is illegal, unscientific and a mistake.
📠Participate in Health Canada’s pesticide consultations: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/pesticides-pest-management/public/consultations.htmlfiled under Legislation/regulatory/ Canada p.2
- Monday, June 15, 2026
Public health organizations call on federal government to stop weakening pesticide safeguards.
Public health organizations call on federal government to stop weakening pesticide safeguards. Media release, June 15, 2026
CPHA, ASPQ and VPQ are urging the federal government to:
- Remove the pesticide-related amendments from Bills C-30 and C-31;
- Maintain mandatory, periodic and special reviews of pesticides;
- Protect the primacy of human health and environmental protection in the Pest Control Products Act;
- Ensure that pesticide decisions rely on current, independent and transparent scientific evidence;
- Conduct the long-overdue comprehensive review of the Pest Control Products Act before making major legislative changes.
“People in Canada should have confidence that pesticide approvals rest on the best available science and a clear commitment to protecting health,” Culbert added. “These proposed amendments would move Canada in the wrong direction and undermine people trust.”
- Friday, June 12, 2026
Elevated Oxidative Stress Damages Life-Essential Cell Function in Bees on Conventional, but Not Organic, Farms
(Beyond Pesticides, May 20, 2026) A study of two pollinator species, honey bees (Apis mellifera) and small carpenter bees (Ceratina calcarata), finds oxidative stress (OX)— an imbalance between antioxidant defenses and excess reactive oxygen molecules (species), or ROS—resulting from exposure to non-living (abiotic) stressors, such as synthetic chemicals, leading to cell damage. Regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), do not routinely evaluate oxidative stress as a standalone or required endpoint in standard pesticide registration protocols
As the authors note: “Our findings demonstrate a clear landscape-dependent variation in oxidative damage, with significantly elevated lipid peroxidation levels (MDA) in roadside-collected bees compared to those from organic or conventional landscapes. However, pesticide residues and diversity were higher in conventional habitats compared to other organic and roadside habitats.” This highlights how organic farms hold the lowest risk of OX in pollinators, while roadside habitats contain many abiotic factors that cause OX.
filed under wildlife section/insects .2
- Friday, June 12, 2026
Literature Review Documents Enhanced Toxicity of Chemical Mixtures in Aquatic Organisms with PFAS Exposure
PFAS
(Beyond Pesticides, May 13, 2026) Published in Toxics, a review finds that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can heighten the risks to exposed organisms from environmental contaminants. Mixtures of these compounds can negatively impact the nervous, cardiovascular, immune, and reproductive systems, particularly in aquatic organisms, and threaten overall biodiversity. The review highlights synergistic effects (greater in combination) observed in mixtures, such as PFAS with pesticides and microplastics, that can cause enhanced oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, developmental defects, and reproductive dysfunction, among others.
PFAS in agriculture represents a large source, as PFAS can be pesticide active ingredients, used in the plastic containers that pesticides are stored in, and as surfactants in pesticide products.
filed under mixture effects and PFAs p.2
- Friday, June 12, 2026
As Rates Rise in Younger People, Early-Onset Colon and Rectal Cancer Linked to Pesticides’ Altering Gene Expression
Spanish study
(Beyond Pesticides, May 21, 2026) An important study by cancer researchers in Barcelona, Spain at once shows a path forward in illuminating the long-term, multi-generational, health damage from pesticide exposures and demonstrates how extraordinarily dilatory U.S. agricultural regulators are in protecting public health. The study, “Epigenetic fingerprints link early-onset colon and rectal cancer to pesticide exposure,” found a robust association between methylation markers (for gene expression associated with cancer) and exposure to a number of pesticides, with the herbicide picloram having the strongest link. Other pesticides with strong associations include the weedkillers atrazine, glyphosate, nicosulfuron, and insecticide esfenvalerate. Colon cancer is expected to double, and rectal cancer to quadruple, in this young age group by 2030.
SNAP Comment: There are 7 (from 11 historically) picloram, 17 (from 66) atrazine, 202 (from 396) glyphosate, 12 (from 21) nicosulfuron and 0 esfenvalerate pesticide products currently registered in Canada. I also checked the colorectal cancer rates in Canada 2000-2010 and 2019-23. for 24-29 years old, The rate increased from 30-50/year (1.4 to 2.6/100000 population) to 85-95/year (3.2 to 3.5/100,000 population)
- Friday, June 12, 2026
Pesticide Contamination Moves Through the Food Web, From Aquatic Insects to Terrestrial Birds and Bats
German study
(Beyond Pesticides, May 15, 2026) As water bodies continue to be contaminated by pesticides and fertilizers used in chemical-intensive agriculture, international researchers find increasing threats to both aquatic and terrestrial food webs with insect transmission of pesticide residues from water to land. Published in Environmental Pollution, the study authors analyze insect species with complex life cycles “with an aquatic phase as larvae and a terrestrial phase as winged adults when they serve as prey for many aerial insectivores, such as bats and birds.” ... As a result of studying feces from birds and bats that prey on these insects, the authors find residues of 16 current-use pesticides, two legacy compounds, and six metabolites (breakdown products). The study results illustrate that pesticide contamination occurs through the ingestion of contaminated prey from aquatic systems, as all of the substances recovered in the fecal samples are detected in the water bodies within the study region.
The pesticide residues found most often, fungicides and herbicides (recently) banned in the European Union (EU) and banned or not registered for use in the U.S., are noted in 56% of the samples (155/278) from the four species tested. Most frequently detected is the fungicide prochloraz, found in 107 of the samples. The legacy compound dinoterb was detected in 46 samples, and the fungicide epoxiconazole was detected in 21 samples..
“Five substances detected (bixafen, diflufenican, dinoterb, prochloraz, simazine) are classified as critical in terms of their potential for bioconcentration and ten out of 18 detected pesticide active substances are classified to be of concern for mammal short term dietary uptake,” the researchers note. “The substances epoxiconazole and metribuzin detected in (the bat) N. noctula feces are listed as showing high chronic toxicity towards mammals, while the substances epoxiconazole, flufenacet (only detected in the martin D. urbicum), prosulfuron (not detected in N. noctula) and tebuconazole (only detected in D. urbicum) are listed as showing chronic toxicity towards birds.”
SNAP Comment: 0 prochloraz, 0 dinoterb, 0 epoxiconazole, 2 bixafen, 4 diflufenican, 0 dinoterb, 0 prochloraz, 5 (from 25 historically) simazine, 45 (from 66) metribuzin, 0 (from 4) flufenacet, 3 prosulfuron, 82 ( from 89) tebuconazole pesticide products registered in Canada. The ones in bold either bioaccumulate, or are chronically toxic to birds and mammals.
- Friday, June 12, 2026
300 Studies Link This Neurotoxic Pesticide to Multi-Organ Damage, Chronic Disease
chlorpyrifos
300 Studies Link This Neurotoxic Pesticide to Multi-Organ Damage, Chronic Disease (By Pamela Ferdinand, U.S. Right to Know. this post appeared first on Children’s Health Defense)
ey findings:
A review of nearly 300 studies summarizes evidence that chlorpyrifos may harm multiple systems throughout the body, including the brain, hormones, liver, gut microbiome, muscles, reproductive organs, and bones.
The review describes DNA damage, chromosome instability, and epigenetic changes that may alter how genes function long after exposure.
Some harmful effects appear at exposure levels below those considered safe under current pesticide exposure testing standards.filed under Presticide fact sheets/ chlorpyrifos
- Friday, June 12, 2026
Neonicotinoid pesticides in African agriculture: What do we know and what should be the focus for future research?
Neonicotinoid pesticides in African agriculture: What do we know and what should be the focus for future research? (by Ochuko Felix Orikpete et al, Chemosphere, Volume 372, March 2025, 144057)
NEO-P = nenicotinoid pesticides
• Imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiamethoxam are the most reported NEO-P.
• 92–100% human urine samples collected in Ghana and Cameroon contained at least one NEO-P.
• No study on NEO-P-pollinator interactions has been reported in 81.5% African countries.
• Re-evaluation of current regulatory practices and adoption of sustainable strategies is vital.NEO-P have been reported in honey, water, vegetables, fruits, and staple foods in most countries .
filed under neonicotinoids 2
- Friday, June 12, 2026
Organic Farm Improves Soil Health and Microbial Diversity, Outperforms Chemical-Intensive Management
Organic Farm Improves Soil Health and Microbial Diversity, Outperforms Chemical-Intensive Management (Beyond Pesticides, May 19, 2026)
filed under Organics/ farming
- Friday, June 12, 2026
Weak Recovery of Bird Species after Neonic Ban with Exceptions in France, Persistence Cited
neonicotinoid imidacloprid
Weak Recovery of Bird Species after Neonic Ban with Exceptions in France, Persistence Cited
(Beyond Pesticides, December 5, 2025) A study published this month in Environmental Pollution analyzes the role of neonicotinoid insecticide exposure on bird populations, finding a significant negative effect of imidacloprid use on insectivorous bird abundance. In comparing the effects of the insecticide imidacloprid on bird abundance in France before and after the 2018 ban, the researchers show a weak recovery of bird populations after 2018. The persistent nature of imidacloprid, however, as well as the continued use of other petrochemical pesticides that have adverse effects on bird species, continues to impact populations of all types of birds and other wildlife, leading to cascading impacts on biodiversity.
“Additionally, our study exemplifies that banning neonicotinoid does not guarantee immediate biodiversity recovery. Such lag effects highlight the need to maintain current ban and to reinforce large-scale, long-term monitoring—particularly of insect populations—if we are to witness recovery.”
SNAP Comment:: I am finding opposite info on whether imidacloprid has been banned in all Europe. Wikipedia says 'The pesticide has been banned for all outdoor use in the entire European Union since 2018,' but a decision from the COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2025/1791 (10 September 2025) postponing the expiry date to 31 December 2027 of the approval of imidacloprid for use in biocidal products of product-type 18 Used for the control of arthropods (e.g. insects, arachnids and crustaceans, by means other than repulsion or attraction.) in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Anyhow, while it seems banned for outdoor use in Europe, bird migrants likely spend the winter in Africa where neonicotinoids stlll seem widely used in agriculture. I am not sure one can only look at local use to determine migrant population.
filed under neonicotinoids 2 and wildlife section/birds p,2
- Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Model Ordinance and Implementation Plan
Model Ordinance and Implementation Plan (Beyond Pesticides)
Beyond Pesticides created this webpage as a sample guide for educational materials for the city of Takoma Park, MD, in response to the ordinance that was passed which restricts pesticide use on private and public property throughout the city. Please note: these documents are educational materials provided by Beyond Pesticides to help the city implement its new policy, and is not Takoma Park's official implementation policy. We hope that you will find these materials useful. If you are interested in working on a similar policy in your community, please contact Beyond Pesticides at 202-543-5450 or email info@beyondpesticides.org.
filed under bylaws/genereal
- Monday, June 1, 2026
SNAP and Safe Food Matters joins other organizations urging the federal government to remove proposed amendments to the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) from Bill C-30 and Bill C-31.
links to Act and the bills at the link above.
The groups warns that the changes weaken scientific and democratic accountability. They weaken Canada’s pesticide oversight system, reduce independent scientific scrutiny, and give politicians greater influence over decisions traditionally guided by scientific evidence.
The amendments proposed in Bills C-30 and C-31 would represent the most significant overhaul of Canada’s pesticide regulatory framework in a generation.
- Sunday, May 31, 2026
Registered actives containing fluorine sales 15 Aug 2024
Registered actives containing fluorine sales 15 aug 2024 (PMRA document) apparently only a partial list and contains 86 active ingredients of pesticides. (document will be downloaded so you have to open it from there)
There are thousands of PFAs and they have only been recently identified as pollutants of concern
filed under Polyfluorinated pesticides and PFAs
- Sunday, May 31, 2026
Pest Control Products Sales Report for 2021
Canadin sales
Pest Control Products Sales Report for 2021 (PMRA, governmet of Canada)
There were 7753 products registered with the PMRA for use in Canada in the 2021
calendar year.. All technical grade active ingredient and manufacturing concentrate product information was excluded from calculation as the quantity is reported in the end-use products. Also, products where the data could not be converted to kg a.i., due to the reported units of
measure, were excluded from calculation.Of the remaining 2746 products reported as sold, the overall pesticide sales in Canada in
2021 were 132 885 434 kg a.i., which is an 5.1% increase from the 126 439 815 kg a.i. sold in 2020 (Figure 1).This report includes sales information by sector and by product type, as well as 2 appenddices: Appendix I Ranking of all active ingredients sold in Canada in 2021.(p 18) and Appendix II Chemical groups and active ingredients – 2020 ( p.32)filed under Pesticide Use and Sales
- Friday, May 29, 2026
Ghost written Article backed Canada s most used herbicide. Now Retracted
glyphosate
Ghost written Article backed Canada s most used herbicide. Now Retracted (National Observer, December 11th 2025) ( link will download a separate file)
The retraction of a 'cornerstone' cancer study Canada's pesticide regulator used to approve Canada's most common herbicide is raising concerns about Ottawa's plan to grant most pesticides indefinite approval. (The journal's) scathing retraction letter cited court documents that show Monsanto employees ghost-wrote the study and suggest the company may have paid the authors. The study only cited unpublished Monsanto studies, ignoring other contradictory research that existed at the time. Williams, the only living author, did not respond to the journal's request for an explanation.
Health Canada said it 'acknowledges' the retraction, but said the ministry's Pest
Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) 'independently reviewed' the primary data
sources cited in the review. Therefore, the retraction 'does not affect the PMRA's
previous review conclusions.' The agency said its re-evaluation 'included more than 1,300 studies'. But most of thosewere excluded from the agency's most recent glyphosate re-evaluation, which includes two documents: a proposed re-evaluation document from 2015 and the final 2017 decision document. The refusal by Health Canada to reasses the safety of glyphosate after the retraction of a 'cornerstone' cancer study has critics doubting the agency's credibility. 'The question PMRA is supposed to be asking is whether, in light of new science, there is a reasonable certainty that no harm to human health or the environment will arise from the use of a pesticide' said Mary Lou McDonald, president of Safe Food Matters, in an email. Instead, the agency 'asks whether new science fits their science model,' and whether it will change their conclusion.'.- Friday, May 29, 2026
Ignoring the Evidence:: Glyphosate, Deer and the Abuse of Power Paperback
re: glyphosate and wildlife
Ignoring the Evidence:: Glyphosate, Deer and the Abuse of Power Paperback – May 19 2026
NOTE from Rod Cumberland:
The NB story, plus all the connections with Health Canada and Monsanto is here, even the "behind the scenes" weaselling between the NB forest industry and the NB government is in here.Currently, number 20 on Amazon's "Hot New Releases" in science! https://www.amazon.ca/gp/new-releases/books/956280
The book will be in NB bookstores on June 15. You can order online presently through Amazon, Barnes and Noble or any place you get your books.
I am hoping this blows the discussion of glyphosate in Canada WIDE OPEN. Please spread the word through your networks.
Thanks all
RodIgnoring the Evidence highlights the journey of Rod Cumberland growing up as the son of a renowned deer hunter in Charlotte County, NB and how he fell in love with both the outdoors, and the white-tailed deer in his younger days. It follows his colorful life growing up in small town NB, the experiences that strengthened him into a person of principle standing up to injustice, following him all the way through his travails through university enroute to becoming the province’s deer specialist. The book uncovers his investigation into dwindling deer numbers across Crown Land in the Province during his tenure at NBDNR. Convinced by the growing evidence that glyphosate spraying was causing dramatic declines in deer food, he embarked on a mission to educate colleagues, government officials and politicians as to the negative impacts, only to become the target of the forestry oligarchy in the province that was highly dependant on the economic benefits from glyphosate use. Rod became embroiled in the battle for the Conservation Forest in the province and watched as political pressure began to impact the debate, and the careers of colleagues and other professionals in the province. As his career shifted to employment at a forestry college, influence from the powerful forest industry affected management at the college and would cause not only a decline of the college programs, but eventually the career of a well-intentioned professional sticking to his morals, values and evidence. “Part memoir, part expose – Cumberland lays out a twisted tale of how power and politics and corrupted science endanger our natural world, and how hard it is to fight back.” – Carey Gillam, investigative journalist and author.
filed under glyphosate 2 and wildlife section/mammals
- Friday, May 29, 2026
brief to the Senate Committee on National Finance about changes to pesticide regulation
URGENT
brief to the Senate Committee on National Finance about changes to pesticide regulation
URGENT: The Federal Gov. has included doing away with the pesticide re-evaluation process and giving Cabinet the power to overrule the Minister when he/she chooses to ban a pesticide. All this under the banner of economics and security.
Looking for more groups to sign on this letter from the David Suzuki Foundation. Let them know if you want your group to sign.
letter regarding the issue of the Omnibus legislation ramming through Bill C-30 and 31. However the ramming is happening as we speak, and the pesticide industry is presenting to the budget committee next week.
Lisa Gue of the David Suzuki is looking for sign on for the submission of many NGOs to the committee. SFM has signed on as have others. Please see her email and the submission below.
Feel free to circulate this to brief to the Senate Committee on National Finance to other groups in your network. Fast turn-around is required, with the committee hearing from CropLife on Tuesday. Please compile the list of any groups wishing to add their names to this brief and forward it to my by noon ET on Monday. I'm hoping to receive the translation around that time and will send it in as soon as possible Monday afternoon.Send your organization's name to Lisa Gue
Ottawa
613-914-0747
lgue@davidsuzuki.org
- Thursday, May 14, 2026
EWG’s Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Chemicals: The top 12 to avoid
EWG’s Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Chemicals: The top 12 to avoid (Environmental Working Group, 15 April 2026) not pesticides here but allowed chemicals.
filed under isssues/ food p.3
- Thursday, May 14, 2026
The 2026 Dirty Dozen
Foods most contaminated by pesticides
The 2026 Dirty Dozen Foods most contaminated by pesticides (Environmental Working Group, 24 March 2026)
filed under isssues/ food p.3
- Thursday, May 14, 2026
For decades, regulators knew paraquat was harmful but failed to address the risks
US. Not currently registered in Canada
For decades, regulators knew paraquat was harmful but failed to address the risks (Environmental Working Group, 16 April 2026) This article is presented as a timeline or regulatory action and research findings. Good illustration of a case where, as far as a regulatory agency is concerned, there is never enough evidence of harm......
SNAP COMMENT: Although paraquat is not currently registered in Canada, there wre 16 registered products. The last date I saw for registration expirey was 2022. It is still used in the USA. Paraquat has been linked to Parkinson's Disease.
filed under Health/ Nervous System Effects /Parkinson's p.2 and pesticide fact sheets/paraquat
- Saturday, May 9, 2026
For the First Time in Legal History, a Government Has Given Insects the Legal Right to Live, Thrive, and Sue Humans in Court
in Peruvian amazon
For the First Time in Legal History, a Government Has Given Insects the Legal Right to Live, Thrive, and Sue Humans in Court The ordinances read like a bill of rights for a pollinator. Courts must now consider damage to the species and the forest, not only human losses. (Arezki Amiri, Daily Galaxy, May 3, 2026)
The ordinances decree that these small black bees of the Amazon have the right to exist, to flourish in a healthy environment, and to be defended in court. A company, agency, or individual that destroys colonies through deforestation, pesticide spraying, or construction can now be sued on behalf of the bees themselves. Constanza Prieto, Latin America program director at the Earth Law Center, said the legal language recasts these pollinators as “rights-bearing subjects” instead of invisible service providers.
... Courts must now weigh damage to the species and the forest, not only losses measured in human terms.
... Before that national law, only European honeybees received legal recognition. The municipal ordinances go a step further: they grant enforceable rights rather than merely shielding the insects from harm.
...The ordinances require reforestation in degraded areas, strict pesticide and herbicide controls, restoration of native flora, climate adaptation plans, and sustained scientific monitoring. The project team has already begun mapping 150,000 hectares of Amazonian forest and documenting traditional beekeeping methods across the region.
filed under Legislation/regulatory/ International and insects p2
- Sunday, May 3, 2026
U.S. Geological Survey Finds PFAS Pesticides In California Streams
U.S. Geological Survey Finds PFAS Pesticides In California Streams
(Beyond Pesticides, April 8, 2026) Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assessed pesticide and PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) contamination in ten agricultural streams in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys (Central Valley) in 2024, detecting 60 pesticides, synergists, and associated transformation products, including 12 fluorinated pesticides (Dithiopyr, Trifluralin, Fluridone, Oxyfluorfen, Penoxsulam, Flubendiamide, Bifenthrin, Flonicam, Indoxacarb, Cyhalothrin, Fluopyram, and Penthiopyrad) that meet the OECD definition of qualifying as PFAS. It is alarming to learn that “the OECD fluorinated pesticides were generally detected more frequently and at higher concentrations” relative to the 48 other compounds. Relatedly, research finds products containing three of the detected pesticides (Methoxyfenozide, Imidacloprid, and Piperonyl Butoxide) associated with various PFAS, and according to the authors, there are a handful of active ingredients, such as the insecticide Methoxyfenozide and the fungicide Azoxystrobin, detected in 100 percent of collected samples.source.
Only 57 of potentially thousands of PFAS chemicals were targeted due to the scope of the study.
filed under polyfluorinated pesticides and PFAs p.2
.
- Sunday, May 3, 2026
The City of Regina has started its spring ground squirrel control program for 2026
with the anticoagulant Chlorophacinone
The City of Regina has started its spring ground squirrel control program for 2026.(3 May 2026)
The product used is named as ROZOL on the sign. The active chemical is Chlorophacinone. The city is generally careful in its use by putting it inside burrows and picking up dead animals every day or 2. Hopefully Wscana does the same. However, it is a slow killing chemical so it is possible that sick animals wander around. If a dog or predator eats a sick ground squirrel, they would ingest some and could get quite sick.
'Chlorophacinone is a first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide. The mechanism of action results in internal bleeding due to non-functional clotting factors. It was used as a toxin to control rodent populations. It is classified as an extremely hazardous substance in the United States as defined in Section 302 of the U.S. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U.S.C. 11002) and is subject to strict reporting requirements by facilities which produce, store, or use it in significant quantities.'
filed under Rodenticides
- Sunday, May 3, 2026
Ecological and Reproductive Consequences of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Agriculture Identified
Ecological and Reproductive Consequences of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Agriculture Identified
(Beyond Pesticides, April 9, 2026) “The routine use of common pesticides in agriculture is no longer an ethically viable option for sustainable food production,” according to a new review in Reproduction & Fertility by livestock researcher Whitney Payne, Ph.D. candidate, and Kelsey R. Pool, PhD, of the School of Agriculture and Environment at The University of Western Australia. They base their position on the endocrine-disrupting qualities of many pesticides... The review stresses the risks that EDCs pose to livestock, which are seriously understudied. EDCs are introduced to cattle, sheep, chickens, goats, and other mammals via pesticides, plastics, and hormone treatments. Since humans consume livestock, the effects of EDCs on animals are not confined to animals themselves. Animal production systems illustrate how EDCs “can enter diverse food chains and ecosystems from a single source,”
filed under Endocrine Disruption
- Sunday, May 3, 2026
Review Links Adverse Cardiovascular Effects with Exposure to Pyrethroid Pesticides
Review Links Adverse Cardiovascular Effects with Exposure to Pyrethroid Pesticides
(Beyond Pesticides, April 3, 2026) A literature review published in Chemico-Biological Interactions links pyrethroid insecticide exposure to cardiac dysfunction. Through a systematic review and meta-analysis of previous research through July 2025, the authors find emerging evidence that indicates pyrethroids induce adverse cardiovascular effects through pathways of inflammation, oxidative stress, and myocardial injury (damage to the heart muscle).
The pyrethroid active ingredients in the studies encompass deltamethrin, beta-cyfluthrin, tefluthrin, fenpropathrin, cypermethrin, tetramethrin, and permethrin.
filed under pyrethrins and pyrethroids and health/cardiovascular
- Sunday, May 3, 2026
Pesticides Deemed Noncarcinogenic Show Cancer Causing Effects When Combined in Nature, Study Finds
Pesticides Deemed Noncarcinogenic Show Cancer Causing Effects When Combined in Nature, Study Finds
(Beyond Pesticides, April 14, 2026) A novel study mapping pesticide mixtures and cancer risk, published in Nature Health, “reveals a robust spatial association between environmental pesticide exposure risk and cancer incidence.” The team of international researchers incorporates pesticide risk modeling with Peruvian National Cancer Institute (INEN) registry data to map pesticide-induced cancer clusters in Peru, finding significant associations between pesticide mixtures and cases of carcinogenicity. The study analyzes 31 active ingredients to identify pesticide-associated cancer hotspots, none of which are classified as carcinogenic on their own by international standards. When combined as pesticide mixtures, as experienced in real-world environments, heightened risks and synergistic effects are noted
filed under health/cancer
- Sunday, May 3, 2026
Multigenerational Abnormalities Linked to Prostate Cancer Associated with Neonicotinoid Insecticide
thiacloprid
Multigenerational Abnormalities Linked to Prostate Cancer Associated with Neonicotinoid Insecticide
(Beyond Pesticides, April 7, 2026) In the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, a study of gestational (during pregnancy) exposure to the neonicotinoid insecticide thiacloprid shows epigenetic effects (alterations in genes without altering underlying DNA) within prostate tissues.... As a result, the researchers...state, “Our study revealed that exposure to thiacloprid induces cell proliferation and is associated with epigenetic alterations in the sperm of genes important for prostate development.” Increased cell proliferation in the prostate can cause the development of conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), and lead to prostate cancer.
The F0 ( first generation) mice were exposed to thiacloprid over 10 days during the embryonic period based on the lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL), the lowest concentration of a substance in which adverse alterations of morphology or function occur. As the authors point out, “The chosen dose was approximately four times lower than the LOAEL established by the EPA Environmental Protection Agency for thiacloprid for mice” and “~5 times lower than the human equivalent LOAEL dose established by the EPA.” The entire experiment, from the F0 generation to the F3 generation, was performed twice.
On May 3rd,2026, there are 2 pesticides containing Thiacloprid registered in Canada (from 4)
filed under neonicotinoids p.2 and cancer/links 2
- Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Trump Faces MASSIVE PROTESTS from FORMER SUPPORTERS!!!
re: glyphosate
Trump Faces MASSIVE PROTESTS from FORMER SUPPORTERS!!! 22 minutes video about US MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) former Trump supporters demonstrating in favor of action on glyphosate. Apparently Trump signed an executive order in February and submitted an Amicus brief to the Supreme Court to protect glyphosate. Worth watching.
filed under glyphosate 2
- Saturday, February 14, 2026
Updated forestry ssprayed landsmap from BC
February 2026
- Friday, February 13, 2026
Secrecy at Health Canada Pesticide Regulator Raises Transparency Concerns, Environmental Advocate Says
Secrecy at Health Canada Pesticide Regulator Raises Transparency Concerns, Environmental Advocate Says (Sam Allcock, Wire Service Canada, 3 February 2026)
Friends of the Earth Canada (satys) the controversy began with an “obscure announcement” quietly posted on the agency’s website in spring 2024.
The notice stated that an international investigation had found that Palamur Bio-sciences Lab, an Indian contract research facility, had falsified scientific studies. As a result, PMRA said it would no longer accept data from the lab and that two pesticide companies that had relied on Palamur studies would be required to replace them.
Palamur later faced further scrutiny. In 2024, Indian authorities determined the lab had falsified 58 studies, and in June 2025 it was charged with animal cruelty.
Bennett questioned why products linked to suspect data were allowed to remain on sale and why the regulator would request replacement studies if there was no concern. He also pointed to past regulatory decisions, noting that PMRA waited until bee deaths became a public issue before requiring additional toxicity studies for neonicotinoid pesticides.
The PMRA would not disclose the name fo the companie or products involved. They now claim the issue with the lab is resolved and that studies from the lab were once again being accepted.
SNAP Comment: Just like the IBP scandal dicovered in 1976. Just grandfather the pesticides, even though the tests were unreliable.
filed under Legislation/Regulatory/Canada p.2 and Industry Shenanigans/ p.2
- Sunday, February 1, 2026
European apples contaminated with cocktails of pesticides (PFAS, neurotoxins and other highly toxic substances)
European apples contaminated with cocktails of pesticides (PFAS, neurotoxins and other highly toxic substances) (PAN Europe, January 29, 2026)
We tested apples from 13 European countries and found an alarming cocktail of dangerous pesticides. Over 90% of these apples do not meet the EU standard for processed baby food.
Almost three-quarters of the samples contained one or more residues of the EU category of the most toxic pesticides, the Candidates for Substitution. Two out of three contained at least one residue of PFAS pesticides, 1 in 3 contained a neurotoxic pesticide. 40% contained the endocrine-disrupting PFAS Fludioxonil, a substance that should have been banned years ago.Unfortunately, apple production is nowadays one of the biggest consumers of pesticides. On average, a conventional apple is sprayed 30 times before reaching the shop. Given apples' position as one of the most consumed fruits, it represents an important source of pesticide exposure for consumers.
... the vast majority of apples contain multiple residues, the so-called "cocktails of pesticides". Despite being a legal requirement since 2005, there is currently still no regulatory framework concerning exposure to such cocktails in the EU.
SNAP Comment: Comercial apples have been heavily sprayed for decades. Apples are #9 in EWG's Dirty Dozen List 2025 so also contaminated in the USA. Thereare currently 50 Fludioxonil pesticides registered in Canada.
'PFAS pesticides detected in European apples are toxic and very persistent themselves (e.g. fludioxonil, tetraconazole both fungicides) while most of them also break down to TFA (cyflufenamid, fluopyram, flonicamid, fluvalinat, lambda cyhalothrin, trifloxystrobin) TFA -Trifluoroacetic acid - is highly persistent, very mobile and very toxic.' (Pan Europe, 2026) . Of these, there are 50 fludioxonil pesticides currently registered in Canada, 5 tetraconazole, 0 cyflufenamid, 22 fluopyram, 3 flonicamid, 3 fluvalinat, 0 lambda cyhalothrin, 38 trifloxystrobin as of February 1, 2026.
filed under food, pesticides in p 3
- Sunday, February 1, 2026
‘ood and feed safety omnibus threatens EU pesticide rules
What “unlimited approval†of #pesticides really means — and why it’s dangerous
‘Food and feed safety omnibus’ threatens EU pesticide rules Position paper (PAN Europe 27/01/2026)
What “unlimited approval” of #pesticides really means — and why it’s dangerous.
SNAP Comment: The same is proposed in Canada.
'The Food and Feed Safety Omnibus proposes an alarming shift in EU pesticide regulation, one that would fundamentally weaken the safety protections citizens rely on.
One of the most alarming changes is that it would make unlimited pesticide approval the default, replacing the current EU approach of limited approvals with regular, systematic toxicity reviews.
â— Why this matters: Under the current EU system, pesticide active substances are approved for a limited period, and then reassessed based on the latest scientific evidence. This is a cornerstone of EU pesticide regulation and is essential because new research can reveal previously unknown health or environmental risks. This system has led to the identification and banning of 54 harmful pesticide substances since 2011, strengthening protection for people and the environment.
🚨 The Omnibus proposal removes this safeguard: By defaulting to unlimited approval, the proposal would allow pesticides to remain on the market indefinitely, without systematic reassessment. This effectively removes the “safety brake” that ensures pesticides are continuously evaluated in light of new evidence.
📌 The consequences:
- Harmful substances could remain authorised for decades, before evidence emerges showing risks to health or ecosystems.
- The burden shifts from industry proving safety to regulators proving harm, and will depend largely on publicly available literature and monitoring, shifting the costs to the public rather than the industry.
- The precautionary principle is undermined, as harm may occur before action is taken to ban the problematic substances.
The Omnibus proposal frames unlimited approval as administrative simplification. In reality, it removes a fundamental public health and environmental protection mechanism.
Our stance: We urge the European Parliament and the Council to oppose and reject this proposal.filed under Legislation/Regulatory/Europe
- Sunday, February 1, 2026
Outrage at European Science Center as director ousted after study on glyphosate
Outrage at European Science Center as director ousted after study on glyphosate (by Carey Gillam, The new lede, 2026)
leading European chemical safety institute has ousted the director of its cancer research center after the director led an extensive testing program into the safety of the pesticide glyphosate, sparking concerns about chemical industry influence into what has been an independent research institution.
Dr. Daniele Mandrioli joined the Ramazzini Institute in Bologna, Italy in 2012 and has directed the Institute’s Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center since 2020. The research facility conducts toxicology studies on a range of environmental substances to determine their carcinogenicity and other potential health implications.
But the dismissal of Mandrioli and the suspicion that it is tied to his work on glyphosate, has roiled scientific circles.
In a Jan. 21 (2026) letter to Ramazzini Institute President Loretta Masotti, Dr. Philip Landrigan, a US environmental epidemiologist and pediatrician who leads Boston College’s global public health program and who also is head of the International Scientific Advisory Committee of the Ramazzini Institute, described Mandrioli as a “superb scientist” and complained that the committee had not been consulted on the termination. The decision appeared to be due to industry pressure, the letter alleges.
“Dr. Mandrioli … has been subjected to vicious attacks by the chemical industry because the findings of the Institute’s independent research have cost these companies money and hurt their bottom line,” Landrigan wrote.
filed uner Industry shenanigans/Interference with Research and Research Publication
- Saturday, January 24, 2026
New filtration technology could be gamechanger in removal of Pfas forever chemicals
Researchers found a new way to filter and destroy Pfas chemicals at 100 times the rate of current systems
New filtration technology could be gamechanger in removal of Pfas ‘forever chemicals’
Researchers found a new way to filter and destroy Pfas chemicals at 100 times the rate of current systems (The Guardian, 23 January 2026.)
'The LDH material Rice developed is a variation of similar materials previously used, but researchers replaced some aluminum atoms with copper atoms. The LDH material is positively charged and the long-chain Pfas are negatively charged, which causes the material to attract and absorb the chemicals, Wong said.
“There you go – it just soaks it in to the order of 100 times faster than other materials that are out there,” Wong added.
Pfas are virtually indestructible because their carbon atoms are bonded with fluoride, but Rice found that the bonds could be broken if the chemicals in the material were heated to 400-500C – a relatively low temperature. The fluoride gets trapped in the LDH material and is bonded to calcium. The leftover calcium-fluoride material is safe and can be disposed of in a landfill, Wong said.
The process works with some long-chain Pfas that are among the most common water pollutants, and it also absorbed some smaller Pfas that are commonplace. Wong said he is confident the material can be used to absorb a broad array of Pfas, especially if they are negatively charged.'
There are some skeptics as the system is complex.filed under Polyfluorinated pesticides and PFAs p.2 and remediation/removal
- Monday, January 12, 2026
There’s a dark side to floristry: are pesticides making workers seriously ill – or worse?
There’s a dark side to floristry: are pesticides making workers seriously ill – or worse? (The Guardian, 11 Januaey 2026)
'The dizziness she experienced that day wasn’t new. By that point King, 30, had spent years battling fatigue, headaches and nausea. Her brain was foggy. She’d walk into rooms and forget why she was there. Now, she believes her symptoms were a result of pesticide exposure.
. But research shows (pesticides) can easily be absorbed through skin contact or inhalation by people exposed for hours every day.
Unlike food, there is no upper limit on pesticide residue levels in flowers in the EU, UK or US.
What few studies exist paint a bleak picture. One, from 1990, found that roughly 9,000 flower workers in Colombia were exposed to 127 pesticides – and suggested those who were pregnant might have higher rates of premature births and babies with birth defects.
Another, from 2018, identified 107 pesticides in an analysis of 90 bouquets, 70 of which ended up in the florists’ urine, despite them wearing two pairs of gloves to handle flowers. Exposure to one particular pesticide, clofentezine, was four times higher than the acceptable threshold. The US Environmental Protection Agency has classified it as a possible human carcinogen and, in 2023, it wasn’t approved for renewal by the EU because of its endocrine disrupting properties, which can cause cancer and birth defects.
That King’s symptoms disappeared once she left the industry supports the idea that they were connected to pesticide exposure, says Eddleston.
It is also incredibly hard to prove causality. According to an investigation by Daily Nation, flower-farm workers in Kenya – where pesticides are used extensively – have reported a range of worrying health issues, from vomiting to damaged organs, loss of limb function and even death.
In contrast to the fashion and food industries, where increased scrutiny has helped improve traceability, floristry supply chains are still incredibly opaque. Although large buyers like supermarkets can set standards and source directly from farms, most florists are independent and buy “blind” from wholesalers
ffiled under exposure p.2
- Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Pesticide industry ‘immunity shield’ stripped from US appropriations bill
Pesticide industry ‘immunity shield’ stripped from US appropriations bill Democrats and ‘make America healthy again’ movement pushed back on the rider in a funding bill led by Bayer ( The Guardian, 6 January 2026)
'The now-deleted language was part of a larger legislative effort that critics say is aimed at limiting litigation against pesticide industry leader Bayer, which sells the widely used Roundup herbicides.
An industry alliance set up by Bayer has been pushing for both state and federal laws that would make it harder for consumers to sue over pesticide risks to human health and has successfully lobbied for the passing of such laws in Georgia and North Dakota so far.
“This provision would have handed pesticide manufacturers exactly what they’ve been lobbying for: federal preemption that stops state and local governments from restricting the use of harmful, cancer-causing chemicals, adding health warnings, or holding companies accountable in court when people are harmed,” Pingree said in a statement. “It would have meant that only the federal government gets a say – even though we know federal reviews can take years, and are often subject to intense industry pressure.”'
filed under Legislation/regulatory/ USA p.2 and Industry shenanigans/ regulatory and legal, including influence peddling