Yikes! Three-Fourths of World’s Honey Contains a Harmful Pesticide

A new report has found that 75 percent of the world’s honey contains pesticides called neonicotinoids  or neonics. The authors concluded that these agents, which are  purported to protect crops from vermin, have a harmful effect on the  insects that pollinate one-third of our food supply. It’s time to stop  the mass-scale use of the chemicals. 

In the study published in the journal Science, Edward Mitchell,  a biology professor at the University of Neuchatel in Switzerland, led a  research team in collecting honey samples from six continents between  2012 and 2016. Of the 198 samples they tested for the five primary types  of neonics, at least one type was found in 86 percent from North  America, 80 percent from Asia, 79 percent from Europe, 73 percent from  Africa, 71 percent from Australia and 57 percent from South America.  Almost half of the samples contained more than one neonic, and 10  percent contained four or five. 

 

How Do Neonics Affect Bees?

The authors expressed serious  concern about the impact of neonics on bees. “Although the impact of the  measured concentrations of neonicotinoids in honey on vertebrates,  including humans, is considered negligible, a significant detrimental  effect on bees is likely for a substantial proportion of the analyzed  samples, as adult bees rely on honey for food, including during periods  of overwintering or seasons without blossoming flowers,” they said.

“The  increasingly documented sublethal effects of neonicotinoid pesticides  at environmentally relevant concentrations on bees and other nontarget  organisms include growth disorders, reduced efficiency of the immune  system, neurological and cognitive disorders, respiratory and  reproductive function, queen survival, foraging efficiency, and homing  capacity at concentrations as low as 0.10 ng/g,” they added.

 

How Do Neonics Affect Humans?

Researchers in the study didn’t  seem worried about the possibility of adverse health effects on humans  resulting from the consumption of neonic-laced honey. However, not  everyone is convinced that long-term consumption of small amounts of the  chemical is safe. People can ingest neonics from the crops sprayed with the pesticide  as well as honey. According to Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology at  the University of Sussex, the chronic effects aren’t known, reports Daily Mail.

“Beyond  doubt…anyone regularly eating honey is likely to be getting a small  dose of mixed neurotoxins,” he said. “In terms of acute toxicity, this  certainly won’t kill them and is unlikely to do measurable harm. What we  don’t know is whether there are long-term, chronic effects from  life-time exposure to a cocktail of these and other pesticides in our  honey and most other foods.”  

 

Risks of Neonics Outweigh Benefits

Do we really need neonics? EcoWatch  reports that the latest research shows the class of pesticides provide  little or no benefit for crop production. Neonics reduce soil quality,  harm the environment and don’t dependably lower the risk of farmers’  financial risk, the publication contends.

Since the risks outweigh  the benefits, especially for the critically needed bee population,  neonics should be banned. In 2013, the E.U. imposed a temporary ban on  three neonics on bee-attractive crops, and the agency is considering  extending the moratorium. In addition, Canada’s Pesticide Management  Regulatory Agency has proposed phasing out one neonic in 2021.  Conversely, North American oversight agencies haven’t recognized the  environmental threat posed by the chemicals and the necessity of  preventing further harm. It’s best to buy organic fruits, vegetables, grains and honey to minimize exposure to pesticides. 

By Mary West

http://www.liveinthenow.com/article/75-worlds-honey-contains-harmful-pesticides