WORLDWIDE INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT First meta-analysis of systemic pesticides - neonics 800 peer reviewed publications 29 independent scientists Environmental.

WORLDWIDE INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

First meta-analysis of systemic pesticides - neonics

800 peer reviewed publications

29 independent scientists

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Summer 2014

MAIN FINDINGS

Clear evidence of harm sufficient to trigger regulatory action

Neonics persist for months/years

Toxicity increased by the duration of exposure

Effects of exposure range from instant and lethal to chronic

Chronic can include:

• impaired sense of smell or memory

• reduced fecundity

• altered feeding behaviour & reduced food intake

• altered tunneling behaviour

• difficulty in flight

• increased susceptibility to disease

ECOSYSTEM

Impacts cascade through the ecosystem weakening its stability

Persistence and solubility has led to large scale contamination of:

• soils and sediments• ground and surface water• treated and non-treated vegetation

This provides multiple routes for chronic and acute exposure of non-target species

SPECIES

Levels resulting from authorized uses frequently exceed ‘lowest observed

adverse effect concentrations’ for wide range of non-target species

Figure with special thanks to Morrisey, Noome and Whitehorn.

MICROBES

INSECTS

TERRESTRIAL INVERTEBRATES

AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES

AMPHIBIANS

REPTILES

FISH

BIRDS

MAMMALS

LEGEND

BEES

Neonics pose a serious risk of harm to honey bees and other pollinators

Field realistic concentrations adversely affect:• individual navigation• learning• food collection• longevity• resistance to disease and fecundity

Bumblebee colony-level effects - slower colony growth, significantly fewer queens

GAPSLittle data about quantities applied, nor much

screening of concentrations in the environment

Toxicity to most organisms not investigated. Tests only carried out on 4 out of 25,000 bee species

Toxicity to vertebrates (eg. birds that may eat treated seeds) only conducted in handful of species

Sub-lethal effects not studied in most organisms

.

CONCLUSIONSPresent scale of use not sustainable

Continued use can only accelerate global decline of important invertebrates and risk reduction in levels of diversity security and

stability of ecosystem services

Large scale, prophylactic use must be reconsidered

CONCLUSIONS

Regulatory agencies should apply more precautionary principles and further tighten

regulations and

start planning for a global phase-out or, at least,

start formulating plans for a strong reduction of the global scale of use