Pesticides found in most pollen collected from foraging bees in Massachusetts

[Ichingcarpenter]

Boston, MA -- More than 70% of pollen and honey samples collected from foraging bees in Massachusetts contain at least one neonicotinoid, a class of pesticide that has been implicated in Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), in which adult bees abandon their hives during winter, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The study will be published online July 23, 2015 in the Journal of Environmental Chemistry.

"Data from this study clearly demonstrated the ubiquity of neonicotinoids in pollen and honey samples that bees are exposed to during the seasons when they are actively foraging across Massachusetts. Levels of neonicotinoids that we found in this study fall into ranges that could lead to detrimental health effects in bees, including CCD," said Chensheng (Alex) Lu, associate professor of environmental exposure biology in the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard Chan School and lead author of the study.

Since 2006, there have been significant losses of honey bee colonies. Scientists, policymakers, farmers, and beekeepers are concerned with this problem because bees are prime pollinators of roughly one-third of all crops worldwide.


The new findings suggest that neonicotinoids are being used throughout Massachusetts. Not only do these pesticides pose a significant risk for the survival of honey bees, but they also may pose health risks for people inhaling neonicotinoid-contaminated pollen, Lu said. "The data presented in this study should serve as a basis for public policy that aims to reduce neonicotinoid exposure," he said.


http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-07/hsop-pfi072015.php

[KT2000]

1. how many of the plants

people buy in the Spring from big box stores and nurseries are grown with neonicotinoid pesticides? Even if people are not purchasing the pesticides they are likely bringing them home.

[Nihil]

2. More to the point, how much of the residue from neonics remains?

Your comment made me think: The standard disposal for dead flowers and
plants (excluding weeds) in our household is into the compost bin ...

I like to get fresh flowers for my wife every now & then as she loves them
brightening up the living room & kitchen. Am I gradually accumulating
pesticide residue in my compost or would it have been degraded long
before the end of the plant cycle?

Any ideas people?

[sue4e3]

3. With some reading I found

the aprox. break down rate of most neonicotinoids is 80 to 248 days depending on the type of soil, how fertile the soil is and other weather conditions. Some of the chemicals may degrade into compounds that are toxicologically significant. I know to be certified as an organic grower you can't have used pesticides on the property for so many years (6 I think ). It doesn't have to be a forever sentence. We need to walk away ASAP