Bad news for bees

Three-quarters of the honey produced around the world contains nerve agent pesticides that can harm bees and pose a potential health hazard to humans.

Research suggests scientists who tested 198 honey samples from every continent except Antarctica discovered that 75% were laced with at least one of the neonicotinoid chemicals.

More than two-fifths contained two or more varieties of the pesticides and 10% held residues from four or five.

Bad news for bees: three-quarters of all honey on Earth has pesticides in it https://t.co/Egk5Monhx2 pic.twitter.com/TE6H2XtM2a— The Verge (@verge) 5 octobre 2017


What do campaigners say?

They are demanding a “complete and permanent” ban preventing any further use of neonicotinoids on farm crops in Europe.

Sandra Bell, nature campaigner at the environmental group Friends of the Earth, called on environment secretary Michael Gove to back greater restrictions on neonicotinoids and pledge to ban them from the UK post Brexit.

“The discovery of bee-harming pesticides in honey samples across Europe reinforces the need for a complete and permanent ban on these chemicals.”

“Honey is a vital source of food to bees, not just a sweet treat for humans, so finding that so many of the honey samples contained a cocktail of these pesticides is a real concern – especially as scientists warn that exposure to a mixture of chemicals can be more harmful.”

“Nothing short of a full ban will protect our bees.”

We have a huge opportunity to save our #bees! SIGN the petition here: https://t.co/yJg20RmGzR pic.twitter.com/lHyMPhdkBv— 38 Degrees (@38_degrees) 6 octobre 2017


What do experts say?

They have described the findings as “alarming”, “sobering” and a “serious environmental concern”.

They also emphasise that pesticide residue levels found in honey generally fall well below the safe limits for human consumption.

One leading British scientist has warned it is impossible to predict what the long-term effects of consuming honey containing tiny amounts of the chemicals might be.

“Beyond doubt, anyone regularly eating honey is likely to be getting a small dose of mixed neurotoxins,” said Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex.

“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.”

What are neonicotinoids?

Neuro-active chemicals similar to nicotine that have proved to be highly effective at protecting crops from pests, especially aphids and root-eating grubs.

They can either be sprayed on leaves or coated on seeds, in which case they infiltrate every part of the growing plant.

Why is there so much opposition?

Years of research have shown that, under controlled conditions, the chemicals are toxic to honey bees and bumblebees, causing brain damage that can affect learning and memory and impair their ability to forage for nectar and pollen.

There is, however, controversy over claims that the chemicals may be harming bee colonies in the “real world” and sabotaging the insects’ vital role as pollinators.

What about the EU?

The new research published in the journal Science could not have come at a more sensitive time in Europe.

A team of European researchers tested almost 200 honey samples from around the world for residues left by five different neonicotinoids.

Three-quarters of all the samples contained at least one of the pesticides. A total of 45% contained two or more and a tenth contained four or five.

Concentrations were highest in European, North American and Asian samples.

EC policymakers are right now discussing whether to make the ban permanent and more wide-ranging.

A total ban would have a huge impact on cereal growers in the UK.