Re: Welcome to the most persistent Pesticide Advocate yet seen
I'll line up with Sippy and others. Hard data is needed to prove the relationship of neonicotinoids to the stated bee deaths. What is in the article referenced is nothing but sensationalized gobbledygook. At the same time, I am convinced that neonics are a problem. Just not convinced they are THE problem in this case.
DarJones
Hi Dar, love your quote of JBS Haldane - a personal scientific hero of mine since I was knee high.
Here is as much 'hard evidence' as you can probably get through in a long winter: download here:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/studiesdownload.html?file=79433&languageDocument=EN
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
REPORT:
"Existing Scientific Evidence of the Effect of Neonicotinoid Pesticides on Bees"
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
KEY FINDINGS
Although bee declines can be attributed to multifarious causes, the use of
neonicotinoids is increasingly held responsible for recent honeybee losses.
Neonicotinoids show high acute toxicity to honeybees.
Chronic exposure of honeybees to sub-lethal doses of neonicotinoids can also
result in serious effects, which include a wide range of behavioural disturbances in
bees, such as problems with flying and navigation, impaired memory and learning,
reduced foraging ability, as well as reduction in breeding success and disease
resistance.
Recent scientific findings are urging us to reassess the bee safety of approved uses of
neonicotinoid insecticides at European level. A current review, carried out by the
European Food Safety Authority EFSA (on behalf of the European Commission) will
give new insights into this issue.
As long as there are uncertainties concerning the effects of neonicotinoids on honey bees, the
Precautionary Principle should be applied when using neonicotinoids in accordance with the Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 [i.e. they should be banned until proven safe]
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PE 492.465 24
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PE 492.465 26
Existing Scientific Evidence of the Effects of Neonicotinoid Pesticides on Bees
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