Neonicotinoid pesticides found in 75 percent of honey worldwide

[ffr]

An analysis of honey samples from locations all around the world showed that 75% of them were contaminated with pesticides known to harm bees. About half of the samples actually contained a cocktail of potentially harmful chemicals, besides the neonicotinoid pesticides.
<snip>

Honeybees are exposed to this pesticide because its residue is found in nectar and pollen. In fact, it persists in the soil and in woody plants for up to six years afterapplication. While a strong direct link between colony collapse disorder and neonicotinoids has not yet been established, it is increasingly clear that after exposure to these pesticides, honeybees become more susceptible to parasites and pathogens.
<snip>

The concentrations of pesticides involved are very low but these chemicals are extremely toxic, up to 10,000 times more potent than DDT, one of the first pesticides of widespread use. DDT was banned for agricultural uses worldwide by the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

The highest contamination rates were reported in North America with 86% of samples containing one or more neonicotinoid pesticides. Asia, Europe, and South America followed, with 80%, 79%, and 57% of samples containing pesticides, respectively. The EU introduced a partial ban on neonicotinoids back in 2013, but the European honey samples included in the analysis was sourced before the legislative measure was installed. - ZME Science

So expect honey in Europe to get less contaminated as time goes on, but for North America where 86% is already contaminated with neonicotinoid pesticides and where anti-healthly republiturds are in power, it's going to continue to get worse.

[Achilleaze]

1. Thanks republicans

republicans didn't need sneaky russian input to devise this particular act of global stupidity.

[diva77]

2. K&R for exposure.

[TeapotInATempest]

3. This is terribly depressing.

Aside from the implications to our food supply, I love bees. They are intelligent, social, domesticated animals. Do you know they actually recognize human faces and can distinguish us from each other?

I hate that they are in such trouble.

[TlalocW]

4. I just took an advanced beekeeping class

Offered for the first time - last year I took Beekeeping I, II, and III as a continuing education class because I want to have a couple hives when I buy a house.

It turns out that the reason for this is that the main way to make money off of bees for large beekeepers is not what it used to be through any products made by the bees - honey, pollen, wax, venom, etc. but by "renting" your bees out to the almond farms on the west cost to pollinate the trees. So bees from all over the country are trucked there and then trucked back, bringing whatever pesticides and other nasty stuff they put on the trees. And then of course, picking up stuff from local crops.

One of the best ways to help bees is one of the simplest - just plant flowers in your yard. I know there are seed packages for attracting butterflies - bees also really like those. I also heard of seed bombs which I guess you can throw on medians and off the shoulders of roads, which got me thinking that instead of just grass, which has to be mowed, off of highways, flowers should be planted instead. Might be something to petition the state governments about.

TlalocW

[TeapotInATempest]

5. That's what I do.

I plant flowers on my deck (no yard) for them and the butterflies and I also practice what's known as guerilla gardening - the (apparently illegal) practice of tossing native wildflower seeds on empty lots.

[ffr]

7. Then I'm guilty too.

One subtle difference though, we grow the native seeds first in a greenhouse, then transplant to mobile containers before putting them in their new homes. Germination is vastly increased and survivability of the seedlings is too, since a lot of chutes get eaten by predators. These slightly older plants are better able to defend themselves or at least have established roots for re-growth later.

[TeapotInATempest]

9. Cool!

Glad to know there are others who are trying to help. Thank you for putting so much effort in!

[MFM008]

6. killing everything that flies

birds, butterflies, bees, wasps............dripping down to US.

[TeapotInATempest]

8. Yes. :(

Some days I can't even stand it anymore. (Today is one of those days.)